K. A. Viswanathan
Makar Sankranti is the only festival people from every community celebrate. In Mumbai at Dharavi, which is one of the most cosmopolitan and congested areas, celebrate this festival every year with zeal with Tamilians, Malayalees, Muslims, Telugus and Maharashtrians coming together to join the event.
Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn). It also signifies the movement of the Sun from the inauspicious Dakshinayana to the auspicious Uttarayana, according to astral positions.
Tamilians celebrate this festival for four days as Pongal Thiruvizah which is strictly a rural festival. However, Tamilians who have migrated to Mumbai also follow the tradition of celebrating in the same manner. The name of the festival is derived from “ Pongal” – a rice pudding made from freshly harvested rice, milk and jaggery with cashew nuts added to it.
At Dharavi area on Pongal day on January 15, hundreds of housewives gathered before Sunrise and boil the rice and milk in a pot and a turmeric plant is tied around it and it is then symbolically offered to the Sun-God along with other oblations. All people wear traditional South Indian sari and red thilak on their forehead. The offerings include two sticks of sugarcane in the background, coconut, betel leaves, nuts and bananas in the dish. Many people also wear new clothes and women decorate houses with Kolam (designs) using rice flour and red clay.
