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 ancesteral 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.
Dhanu Sankranti, Dhanu Sankraman
Dhanu Sankranti is observed when the sun moves from Vrischika Rashi (Scorpio) to the Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius). This day is the solar calender’s new month and is known as Dhanu month in Malayalam, Margazhi in Tamil, Poush in Bangali.
Dhanu Sankranti is also called as Dhanu Sankraman in southern parts of India. For Dhanu Sankranti auspicious time exists till sixteen Ghatis ( 1 day = 60 Ghatis) after the Sankranti moment. The time window that exists between sankranti moment to that moment is considered auspicious for all Dan-Punya activities. On Dhanu Sankranti day, People Perform Sankraman Snan, Japa, charity, pitru tarpan and shradha rituals on this day. during this day they worship the Sun God.
Dhanu Sankranti is celebrated with utmost fervor in Odisha. Special pujas are organized at lord Jagannath temple at Puri. A special sweet made of rice flakes known as Dhanu Muan is prepared and offered to Lord Jagannath. Dhanu Yatra is also held during this time. Various parts of Lord Krishna’s life are dipicted in the Street plays throughout the state. The one that held in the Bargarh town is world famous.
