| In
many parts of India no wedding dates are set until after the
celestial event referred to above, i.e. the change of direction of
the sun. This change signals the beginning of all shubha-kaaryaas
(auspicious undertakings). During the Mahabharata war, the grandsire
Bhishma, who was severely wounded in the dakshinayana period, waited
until uttaraayana began to relinquish his body.
He had, of course, obtained a boon to
die at will. The
terrestrial year of 365 days is divided into twelve parts of
approximately equal duration known as raashi in the zodiac. The
position of the sun is determined on the basis of the zodiacal
domain he is in.
When the sun enters a raashi known as
makara on a day in mid-January, the festival of Makarasankranti. is
celebrated in many parts of India with great enthusiasm. The
harvesting of the winter crop is the right time to pay respect to
another important factor in any successful agricultural season –
the cattle. |
