Sankranti, Sankraman
Sankranti is celebrated on sankraman day i.e. when Sun transits from one zodiac to the next. According to surya siddhanta, Vedic hindu calender consists 12 months. There are 12 sankranti days in a year and each Sankranti day marks the beginning of the new month in Hindu Solar Calendar.
All twelve Sankranti(s) in the year are considered highly auspicious for performing ancestral rituals (Shraddha and Tarpanam) and daana-punya activities. Only particular time duration before or after each Sankranti moment is considered auspicious for Sankranti related activities.
Karka Sankranti, Karkataka Sankranti, Karka Sankraman
Karka Sankranti is observed when the sun moves from Mithuna Rashi (Gemini) to the Karkataka Rashi (Cancer). This day is the solar calender’s fourth month and is known as Karkatakam month in Malayalam, Aadi in Tamil, Shrabon in Bangali.
Karka Sankranti is also called as Karka Sankraman in southern parts of India. For Karka Sankranti thirty Ghatis (1 day = 60 Ghatis) before the Sankranti moment is considered as the start of auspicious time and the time window that exists between that moment and Sankranti moment is considered auspicious for all Dan-Punya activities. Performing Sankramana Snan, charity, Japa, pitru tarpan and shradha are the important rituals of this day.
Karka Sankranti is one of the Ayana sankranti, and marks the beginning of Dakshinayana. During this day, Anna daan, Taila daan and Vastra daan are considered auspicious. Chanting Vishnu Sahasra Nama and Worshiping the Sun God are also prescribed.
