Parsippany Mayor James Barberio and Council President Lou Valori celebrates Indian cultural festival “Makara Sankrant/ Uttarayan / Rangoli ” – a Hindu festival with Indian Americans. Tandoori Flames organized Rangoli(patterns on the ground with colored powder) competition for women and served a very authentic and traditional lunch for the festive occasion
Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated in India in various cultural forms. It is one of the most auspicious days for Hindus all over India and in other countries. It is celebrated with pomp and devotion in almost all the states of India in various forms. Makar Sankranti is a festival of the harvest season when the Sun enters the Tropic of Capricorn or ‘Makar’. It usually coincides with 14th or 15th of January every year corresponding to the month of ‘Magh’ according to the Hindu solar calendar.
Significance It also signifies the northward journey of Sun which is called ‘Uttarayan’. People discard old things for new ones, forget old enmities and pray to god and offer food to their ancestors with the start of the harvesting season and end of the winter months.
‘Makara Sankranti’ is celebrated over four consecutive days in some parts of the country. The people light bonfires with old wooden furniture during the first day of ‘Bhoghi’ and distribute sweets. On ‘Makara Sankranti’ day people put on new clothes and offer prayers to the almighty and food to their ancestors. Women draw beautiful patterns on the ground with the help of colored powder also known as Rangoli. On ‘Kanuma’ day, food is shared with the livestock, birds and fish. Farmers pay their homage to nature’s elements and offer gifts to gods and goddesses on ‘Mukkanuma’. People participate in Ox and Bullock racing, Cock fighting and Kite flying.
