- Uttarayana
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For the kite-flying festival, see Makar Sankranti.
Practices
Uttarāyaṇa (उत्तरायण, উত্তরায়ণ, ઉત્તારયાના), or Uttarayana, is the six-month period between Makar Sankranti (around January 14) and Karka Sankranti (around July 14), when the sun travels towards the north on the celestial sphere. The name Uttarayana comes from joining two different Sanskrit words "Uttara" (North) and "ayana" (movement towards). The period from July 14 to January 14 is known is Dakshināyana (दक्षिणायण). The starting of Uttarayana is celebrated as Makara Sankranti throughout India.
Contents
Drik Siddhanta and Uttarayana
The season occurs based on tropical sun (without ayanamsha). The earth revolves around sun with a tilt of 23.45 degrees. When the tilt is facing the sun we get summer and when the tilt is away from the sun we get winter. That is the reason when there is summer north of the equator, it will be winter south of the equator. Because of this tilt it appears that the sun travels north and south of the equator. This motion of the sun going from south to north is called Uttarayana – the sun is moving towards north and when it reaches north it starts moving south and it is called Dakshinayana – the sun is moving towards south. This causes seasons which are dependent on equinoxes and solstices.
There is a common misconception[citation needed] that Makara Sankranti is the Uttarayana. This is because at one point in time Sayana and Nirayana zodiac were the same. Every year equinoxes slide by 50 seconds due to precession of equinoxes, giving birth to Ayanamsha and causing Makar Sankranti to slide further. As a result if you think Makar Sankranti is Uttarayana then as it is sliding, it will come in June after 9000 years. However Makar Sankranti still holds importance in Hindu rituals. All Drika Panchanga makers like mypanchang.com, datepanchang, janmabhumi panchang, rastriya panchang and Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika use the position of the tropical sun to determine Uttarayana and Dakshinayana.
Also when Uttarayana starts, it is a start of winter. When equinox slides it will increase ayanamsha and Makar Sankranti will also slide. In 1000 AD, Makar Sankranti was on Dec 31 and now it falls on January 14; after 9000 years when Makara Sankranti will be in June. It would seem absurd to have Uttarayana in June when sun is about to begin its ascent upwards —Dakshinayana. This misconception continues as there is not much difference between actual Uttarayana date of Dec 21 and January 14. However, the difference will be significant as equinoxes slide further.
Celebrations on Uttarayana
Uttarayana is the day when the sun starts to travel towards north as a sign of coming summer. People fly kites from their rooftops in celebration of the festival.
Uttarayana in Hindu Astronomy
As per Hindu mythology on this very day Bheeshma Pitamaha, as referred by Kauravas and Pandavas of Mahabharata, chose to leave for his heavenly abode. As per a boon granted to Devavratha (Bheeshma), he could choose his time of death and he chose this very day, when the sun starts on its course towards the northern hemisphere.
See also
- Kite fighting
- Kite running
- Manja
References
- International Kite Festival
- Manja market flying low! 15 Dec 2006, Rajat Ghai , TNN, The Times of India
- Docs flock to save winged victims, 10 Jan 2008, Radha Sharma , TNN, Times of India
- Vulture worries stalk activists on Uttarayan, 14 Jan 2007, TNN, The Times of India
- Vets to heal birds this Uttarayan, 5 Jan 2006, Radha Sharma , TNN, The Times of India
- Soaring kites ground at least 600 winged souls, 15 Jan 2005, TNN, The Times of India
- Uttarayan cuts short six lives, 16 Jan 2004, TNN, The Times of India
- 10-year-old boy dies chasing kite, 14 Jan 2008, TNN, The Times of India
- Celebrate... but with compassion, 12 Jan 2004, JHUMARI NIGAM , TNN, The Times of India
- Pakistan tackles killer kites: Kite flyers in Pakistan's Punjab Province will face murder charges and a possible death penalty if their sharpened strings cause more deaths. By Shahid Malik, BBC, BBC correspondent in Lahore, Tuesday, 10 June 2003
- Many birds fall prey as kites rule skies, 15 Jan 2003, TNN, The Times of India
- Uttarayana
External links
Categories:- Hindu astronomy
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