Sankramana Kranthi is Sankranthi
As the New Year has dawn, a new season of joy and happiness ushers every mind and thought and life is celebrated. When Christians celebrated the “Epiphany” on the 6th of January, the manifestation of the divine light to the nations far and wide was reaffirmed. The immediate festival that arrives in the New Year and in the Indian sociological calendar is “Sankranthi”, the festival that is celebrated in all splendor and grandeur all across the country by our friends affirming Hindu faith. The Sun’s entry into each house is called “Sankramana” and “Kranthi” means ‘transformation through light’. Therefore “Sankranthi” is the festival that brings in a change and transformation into every house, as the Sun brings in new smiles and cheer to every household.
When our world today is caught up in several chaotic conditions and situations, which are beyond repair and cure, this festival “Sankranthi” is a challenge to bring in a transformation and change into our life situations.
· In the context of rapid climatic changes to our planet earth caused by our human greed and irresponsibility, the festival of “Sankranthi” is a challenge and a chance for safeguarding our planet with care and brings in transformational light into our earth.
· In the context of phenomenal change in the geo-political axis, where the rich continue to become richer and the poor still further poorer, the festival of “Sankranthi” is a challenge and a chance for breaking the inequality and inequity among the rich and the poor and bring in transformational light into our world.
· In the context of vigorous discriminations and oppressions in the name of caste, creed, gender, religion, region etc, the festival of “Sankranthi” is a challenge and a chance to build in just and inclusive communities, where justice will flow down like streams and peace will cover like calm skies above, and bring in a transformational light into our context.
· In the context of fermenting fundamentalism and fanaticism among religions, where enmity, violence and bloodshed have become the norm, the festival of “Sankranthi” is a challenge and a chance to build friendship among religions, commonly addressing the issues of injustices and violation of human rights and bring in a transformational light into our vicinities.
May this season and festival of “Sankranthi” challenge each one of us to become the beacons of light and transformation. May we be enlightened and join hands in lightening our societies, and may we be the change makers bringing in transformation. Enjoy the festival and live for transformation.
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3 comments:
Your reflection is appreciated Bharat.
The Sankranti you are referring is also known as Makara Sankranti. In Orissa, it is beleived and practised that people make pledge of friendship on this day forgetting past anomisity if any they had against each other because the word 'Makara' when tranlated into Oriya means 'Friend'. As we celebrate this Sankranti, let us also celebrate our friendship!
Kasta
Even though Sankranthi is a time for transformation I wonder whether people think of it in terms of transforming the lives of others or only their own lives? In essence a family which already has resources is only thinking of doubling those resources and not sharing it with those with no resources. I think that is what is missing in the new year concept. For the poor (in multiple senses) the old never changes.
thank u Kasta and Jerry for ur comments, and i am sure your reflective comments have further added to the content and i appreciate you for your time and inputs. Friendship is certainly that binds and builds in us the sensitivity for transformation. Selfishness and accumulation of resources are the vices that catch us up not to be part of transforming our communities, and i think festivals should challenge us to counter those vices.
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