Maghesakranti

Maghesakranti food items prepared by mom, tilauree made from sesame seeds and sugar,Sakhar-Khand (sweet potatoes), Pidaalu (Taro Roots), Tarul (Yam) remind me many things in life.According to Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah, who had the power to control his own death, happened to choose to die on the day of Maghe Sankranti. Therefore it is believed that those who die on this day might achieve Moksha, the ultimate release from the suffering of rebirth.is the first day of month of Magh of Bikram Sambat. Magh is tenth month in the year.

Sankranti is the Sanskrit word in Eastern Astrology which refers to the transmigration of the Sun from one Rashi (sign of the zodiac) to another. In very simple word sangranti is the first day of Nepali calendar. Then obviously, there are 12 such sankrantis in a year. Makar Sankranti is the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn).

In hindu Astrology the sun position during the year is divided into 12 rashis (zodiac signs). It is however, very difficult to reconcile amonst Bikram Sambat months, Zodiac months and lunar calendar's months. While the traditional Calendar is based on lunar positions, Sankranti is a solar event. So dates of all Hindu festivals keep changing as per the Gregorian calendar and so do the Makar Sangranti too.

We have been this festival since childhood,i used to travel around my mitbuwas ,who used to prepare pakaudas,they were urhiya people and had very special interest in Paan and Tambul and they brought other food items too.My dad had friendships with many and we used to have lots of things around us like khai laddu,muree laddu,til laddoo made of different food items and celebrated as bhogali bihu because we use bhog or prasad to God Surya and distribute tasty food items prepared to everyone,we loved the tasty pickles made of potatoes,bananas,taro leaf ,and use of seasame food as special ingredient with chilly ,green chilly and ginger was the most important aspect  of kitchen menu at home.

Family gathers at yard and has the cuisine ,I remember mom made selrotee with cereals and papaya as special and slight change in menu and we all gathered with friends.The children in a group took the food items school areas or playground to have with friends.Park was the most interesting place to share food and ideas and celebrate maghesankaranti watching movies using sound box there.

Some of us we collected woods in a place and beat the drum and worship fire after taking bath,Duliyajan was the most interesting place as the gurudwara located nearby  b type quarters  and the children around there had the groups ot lead the programs around school periferi and other boundaries of golf field.We ran around and collected friends to enjoy the days in tea gardens.

Even we never forget to include other friends around kathmandu,Nawalaparasee,Papla,Jhapa and Dhading who organised lots of cultural programs there,one of them was the active in theatrical performances ,who used to act in school programs.i just followed him everywhere as silent observer because a lzy bone like me always knew how to eat in large bowl and observe other.

To sum up ,maghesankaranti never concluded in one act play it has multiple dimensions for the children who enjoy as festival from cousine to Gurudwara,lohree to maghi,makarsakranti to Bhogali Bihu all elders gave us blessing and we just followed them from home to field,school to village areas, clubs to Bihutali ,books to movies and lyrics to lullaby and the talk never ended till now.