Udupi: Fireworks Add Charm to Makara Sankranti Festivities

By Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Jan 14: The evening lit up in myriads of colours as fireworks and lights illuminated the town in celebration of Makara Sankranti here on Friday January 14.

The festival was celebrated with pujas in Sri Krishna Mutt and other temples across the district. Thousands of people gathered to witness this grand sight and bath in the bliss of the divine grace.

After the night puja, chariots were pulled, after installing the idols of Lord Srikrishna and Mukhyaprana, Sri Ananteshwara and Chandramauleeshwara in them.

‘Muru Teru Utsav’ including ‘Brahma Ratotsav’ was held at Sri Krishna Mutt on Friday night as part of the seven-day celebration.

‘Teppotsav’ religious rites in Madwa Sarovar in Sri Krishna Mutt, the laser lights illuminating the ‘Raths’ (chariots) and a colourful display of fireworks were the specialty of the celebrations this year. 

Sankranthi or Sankramana means transition. This is the day on which the sun shifts from the southern transit and enters the northern transit. Hindus believe that for Gods, Dakshinayana is night, and Uttarayana is day. This year, Sankranthi is celebrated on January 14, and in many places, it is being celebrated on January 15. In science too, this is an important phase in the movement of sun.

People take bath in holy rivers and tanks on this day, and visit the temples to pay obeisance to the presiding deities. In Sabarimala, thousands of devotees prostrated before Lord Ayyappa, and witnessed the ‘Makara Vilakku’ light on January 14, and experienced a sense of fulfillment. Climate starts to turn warmer from this day onwards. To mark the transition, in northern states, ‘Lohri’ festival is celebrated on January 13. In Tamil Nadu, Sakranthi is known as Pongal.