Prime Minister Modi greeted people on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and harvest festivals celebrated in different regions of the country.
Makar Sankranti. (iStock)
Makar Sankranti, the transition of the Sun from Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara Rashi (Capricorn), is being celebrated with great religious fervour across the country on Monday, 15 January.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and harvest festivals celebrated in different regions of the country.
In his posts on X, Modi noted that the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti is associated with meditation and charity as he wished for good health and prosperity for everyone.
He also wished people on Pongal and Magh Bihu.
साधना-ध्यान और दान-पुण्य की पवित्र परंपरा से जुड़े पावन पर्व मकर संक्रांति की ढेरों शुभकामनाएं। प्रकृति के इस उत्सव पर उत्तरायण सूर्यदेव से कामना है कि वे देश के मेरे सभी परिवारजनों को सुख-समृद्धि, सौभाग्य और उत्तम स्वास्थ्य प्रदान करें।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 15, 2024
In Karnataka, devotees thronged temples offering special prayers. In keeping with tradition, people exchanged sweets made of sesame seeds and jaggery.
At Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple in Bengaluru, devotees stood in a long queue at the cave temple to see the sunlight directly falling on the Shivalinga.
The Kadu Malleshwara temple at Malleshwaram in Bengaluru too saw the huge turnout of devotees offering special prayers with “Bilva Patra” in the morning.
At Kapileshwara temple in Belagavi, which is considered as Dakshina Kashi, special prayers were performed.
At Nanjangud in Mysuru, special rituals took place at Nanjundeshwara temple. The temple saw people from various parts of the state visiting to offer their obeisance.
Sringeri, one of the four important Peetas of the country established by Adiguru Shankaracharya himself, wore a festive look from the morning.
Elaborate poojas were performed at Vidyashankara Temple in this religious town in Chikkamagaluru district.
There was a great rush of devotees at Murudeshwara temple in Uttara Kannada district. The temple is famous for its tall and attractive gopuram (tower) and the iconic Shiva statue overseeing the Arabian Sea.
People took a holy dip in the rivers such as Cauvery, Krishna and Tunga on the auspicious occasion.
In Tamil Nadu, the harvest festival Pongal was celebrated with grand festivities ushering in the Tamil month “Thai”.
The famous Avaniyapuram jallikattu — the bull-taming festival — got underway in Madurai coinciding with the festival. Scores of eager tamers tried to subdue the charging bulls by latching on to their hump.
People across the state ushered in the auspicious Tamil month “Thai”, preparing the sweet dish pongal, made of rice and jaggery to symbolise prosperity.
Many houses were decorated on the occasion and people attired in new dress celebrated the festival with much joy and fervour.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Chief Minister MK Stalin, AIADMK general secretary and state Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, and DMK MP Kanimozhi, among others, extended their Pongal greetings.
In his Pongal greetings, DMK Youth Wing chief and state Minister Udhyanidhi Stalin also wished the people of the state a happy “Tamil New Year”.
“Let the regressive Aryan practices perish, and Dravidian equality flourish. Wishing you all a #HappyPongal and Happy Tamil New Year. @astrokiru,” he said in a post on X.
ஆரியப் பழமை மறையட்டும்,
சமத்துவ திராவிடம் மலரட்டும்.
இனிய #பொங்கல் மற்றும் தமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு நல் வாழ்த்துகள்.Let the regressive Aryan practices perish and Dravidian equality flourish. Wishing you all a #HappyPongal and Happy Tamil New Year. @astrokiru pic.twitter.com/RNHDWDLWDt
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) January 14, 2024
The DMK government, headed by the late M Karunanidhi, during its 2006-11 rule, had changed the Tamil calendar to bring the Tamil New Year, celebrated in April, to January, coinciding with “Thai.”
However, the subsequent AIADMK government under the late J Jayalalithaa reverted it to April, or the Tamil month “Chithirai.”
In a separate video post, Udhayanidhi, while extending Pongal and Tamil New Year greetings, also exhorted his supporters to attend the 21 January Salem Youth Wing Conference in good numbers, saying it will pave the way for a change at the Centre with its focus on state rights.
Parliamentary elections are due in a few months.
உலகெங்கும் வாழ்கின்ற தமிழர்களுக்கு என் இனிய #பொங்கல் மற்றும் தமிழ்ப்புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துகளை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
‘தை பிறந்தால், வழி பிறக்கும்’ என்பார்கள். இந்த தை மாதம் சேலத்தில் நடக்கவிருக்கும் நம் @dmk_youthwing-ன் மாநில மாநாட்டில் ஒன்று கூடி, இந்திய ஒன்றியத்துக்கே… pic.twitter.com/7MhVoMKsi5
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) January 14, 2024
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