For the Vaishnavaites in South India,
the month in which Makara Sankranti occurs is
Dhanurmasa, very very sacred as Andal. One of
their Alwars played on her heart's strings to
please Lord Vishnu and became his spouse in this
month. Throughout the month they spend the days
singing Tiruppavai, the melodious poems sung by
Andal and doing special poojas in the Temples.
In Andhra, 14th January is connected with the
harvest season and also with the Gopis of Brindavan.
For one month before Sankranti, huge patterns
of Rangoli are drawn in front of the houses, and
young unmarried girls make round balls of fresh
cow dung, decorate them with flowers and place
them on the Rangoli. In the evenings the balls
are made into dry cakes and preserved carefully
till the 13th of January. The three days, 13th
to 15th are known as Bhogi, Sankranti and Kanumau.
On 13th early in the morning a big bonfire is
made and all the dry cakes are burnt. In the evening
the girls worship the fresh cow dung balls which
are called Gobbi, a corruption of Gopi. The unmarried
girls pray for suitable husbands, singing and dancing
round the balls.
As in the harvest festivals, it is believed
that King Bali rises up from Patala on 13th, goes
round on 14th and returns to his Patala on the
15th. So on 13th Rangoli is drawn in the form
of a chariot leading in one direction and on 15th
again the chariots are drawn leading in the opposite
direction indicating the return of King Bali.
Doll shows are arranged in the houses and the
women folk visit one another's houses to see
the doll shows. This is to inculcate in the hearts
of the people the spirit of sacrifice, Bali, when
prosperity comes. They should remember God and
also the man in need when there is abundance. |
