Ignorance is a bliss(better than incomplete information). Recently during one of our chai sessions, there was a discussion that Lohri and Makar Sankranti (or Makar Samkranti) are the only festivals with fixed dates. I was not sure as I never heard it. What I knew was that Indian festivals are not based on British(English) calendar.
In India we used to go to Nani/Dadi or to nearest temple to get any information regarding festivals and used to follow it without thinking. Though they used to tell me the explanations behind that answer but I never paid attention to those details. Just have vague memories that there used to be some reasoning. Now when I am in US, either I have no information or I have too much information. We have people from different parts of the country with different ideas and then internet adds on to it. Now you have 1000 incomplete answers to one simple question. Amazing!
Anyway, I refer this website "mypanchang.com" regarding festival dates. This site has scientific explanations to convince me and my near/dear ones to stick to one festival date.
Coming back to Lohri and Makara Sankranti celebration dates. Lohri is celebrated the day before makara sankranti. Sun's entry into makara rashi is celebrated as makara samkranti and so the day before that transit is Lohri. Hence, I got to know that Lohri and Makara Sankranti are not celebrated on fixed dates. However, it happens to be that it(sun's transition) is on January 14th nearly 99% times. Sometimes it could be before or after. You can read the explanation here.
In 2009, Lohri date: 12th(USA) & 13th(India); Makara Sankranti: 13th(USA) & 14th(India).
By the way, I made Til Ke Ladoo(Sesame seed ladoo). Looked online and it was not difficult. It was my first try so I am satisfied with the results.
So, belated happy Lohri and Makara Sankranti. Be happy! its the start of warmer days:)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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Oh, the explanation of Lohri on the website has at least one basic error:
ReplyDeleteThe earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time, starts its journey towards the sun, thus ending the coldest month of the year and announcing the start of the summer season.
The earth's orbit around the sun is almost circular, and the distance change doesn't cause the seasons. If it did, we would have summer and winter at the same time all over the earth, instead of the southern hemisphere having summer when it's winter in the northern hemisphere and vice versa.
Also, If the Lohri is based on the sun being in a particular constellation, then by definition it's not following the traditional "Indian" calendar, because that's based on the moon. A date based on the movement of the sun in a given constellation by definition doesn't change over the years according to the Gregorian calendar (unless we take into account precession of equinoxes, but let's ignore that for now because it's negligible for this discussion). For example, one can say that Winter solstice is not based on Gregorian calendar because it is defined as the day when the sun is at the southernmost point (as seen from the earth). That fact hasn't changed in a long time, even before humans existed (well, see precession of equinoxes again). But the winter solstice almost always happens on Dec 20 or 21.
I think it's an issue of terminology. Any even based upon the sun's position is going to have a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar because the calendar is based on the sun's movement.
Sorry for the long post but to me it seems that the "scientific" explanations about Lohri on that website have a bit of "our culture is different and more complex than you think" feel to it. In this case, they're wrong about their explanations, although their conclusions are most likely correct.
The website is even more "jingoistic" than I originally thought. See Why there is a one day difference in hindu festival dates in India and America?
ReplyDeleteThey took paragraphs upon paragraphs to say that time zone differences mean that a given time (let's say 4AM on Jan 17th) doesn't happen at the same moment all over the world.
I think they know their stuff for the most part (except for knowing why seasons happen) but can't explain it properly.
You can, of course, trust their dates for festivals, but don't take their explanations too seriously. :-)
Wow! I touched the wrong topic :) I totally agree with you Alok. Thanks for all correction and I would not assume that the explanation is correct. I was also stuck for a second on 'dates based on movement of sun'.. I cannot judge how much wrong the explanation is. You must be knowing better for obvious reasons. But I believe that due to moon, dates could change as all other festival dates are not fixed.
ReplyDeleteHaha you also disagree to time difference in US and India festival dates. I don't know, the real explanation could be wrong (again you know better) but I am reading the big picture logic.
I am not supporting the website but if you will go to India, you will not like anything done there regarding the festivals/stars etc etc.. It will be fun to see you talking to the priests and astrologers:)(just kidding)