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.
Mesha Sankranti, Mesha Sankraman
Mesha Sankranti is observed when the sun moves from Meena Rashi (Pisces) to the Mesha Rashi (Aries). This day is the solar calender’s new month and is known as Medam month in Malayalam, Chithirai in Tamil, Bôishakh in Bangali.
Mesha Sankranti is also called as Mesha Sankraman in southern parts of India. For Mesha Sankranti auspicious time starts fifteen Ghatis ( 1 day = 60 Ghatis) before the Sankranti moment and ends fifteen Ghatis after the Sankranti moment. Performing Sankramana Snan, Japa, worshiping Sun God, pitru tarpan and shradha are the important rituals of this day.
Mesha Sankranti is specially known for ritual baths in the river Ganges, Godavari, Yamuna and other holy rivers across India. During this Sankranti time feeding cow is also considered highly auspicious.
Pana Sankranti, Maha Vishuva Sankranti
In Odisha, Mesha Sankranti marks the beginning of the Oriya New year. This day is celebrated as Pana Sankranti / Maha Vishuva Sankranti. First day of the year is celebrated on the same day as the Sankranti if it occurs before Hindu midnight or else it is celebrated on the next day. Danda Nacha is the main ritual of this day.
Puthandu, Varusha Pirappu
First day of Tamil new year is celebrated as the Puthandu / Varusha Pirappu. Here, If mesha Sankranti takes place after sunrise and before sunset the year begins on the same day. If Sankranti takes place after sunset then the year begins on the next day. Kolams, kani, panchang puja, and drinking pachadi are the the main rituals of this day.
Vishu
Mesha Sankranti is celebrated as Vishu festival in Kerala. It marks the start of Malayalam new year celebrated in a Grand manner. According to Kolla varsham (Malayalam calendar), the day between sunrise and sunset is divided into five parts. If Mesha Sankranti takes place within the first three of them (before madyhna) the year begins on the same day, or else it begins on the next day. Vishukkani, Vishupadakkam, Puthukodi, Vishukkaineetam and vishu sadhya are the main events of the day.
Pohela Boishakh, Naba Barsha
Pohela Boishakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar. Boishakh is name of the first month in Bengali calendar and Pohela means ‘first’. This new festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Westbengal and Bangladesh. Here, when mesha Sankranti takes place between sunrise and midnight of the day the year begins on the following day. If it occurs after midnight the year begins on the next following day. Mesha Sankranti is celebrated as Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal.
Bohag Bihu, Rongali Bihu
Mesha Sankranti is celebrated as Bihu in Assam. Assamese celebrate three Bihu festivals in a year. Bohag Bihu, the most popular Bihu celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year.
