MAKAR SANKRANTI, a Hindu festival day, held on the occasion of the sun entering the sign 3fakar, corresponding to Capricorn. It occurs on the 1st of the solar mouth 3fagh. From this day, when the sun reaches tho most southern, till the time of his arriving at the most northern, point of the zodiac, is called Uttarayana, and the time from his leaving the northern sign Karka or Cancer, till he again returns to Makar, is called Dakshinayana. The days of Uttarayana are reckoned lucky, and those of Dakshinayana un lucky. During the days of Dakshinayana, it is said tho gates of heaven are shut, and in the Uttarayana they are open. For the good to die in tho Uttarayana is considered more blessed, because they are said to get immediate entrance into heaven ; but if they die in the Dakthivayana, they have to wait outside the gates till the Utta rayana sets in. In Uttarayana, Muni — the ceremony of investing youths with the sacred triple thread—and marriages are celebrated. On the day of Makar Sankranti, just at the time of the sun's entrance into the sign, the Hindus go to the sea, accompanied by a Brahman priest, to bathe ; there they rub their bodies with tila or sesamum seed, the favourite grain of the sun, and wash themselves in the manner prescribed in the Shastras. The Brahman then repeats certain prayers suited to the occasion, and closes the ceremony by receiving adoration and a present of money for himself. On their return home they
invite Brahmans, present them with cups of bell metal filled with seed and with money, accord ing to the ability of the Yajaman or worshipper ; some present copper pots, new dhotis, umbrellas, etc., and the whole family receives benediction from them, which is done by the Brahmans re peating certain words, and throwing on their heads a few grains of red-coloured rice. After the performance of this ceremony, they go to take their meals, which consist of sweetmeats. They invite their friends and relations to dinner ; and towards evening they wear new clothes, gold and other ornaments, and frequent the houses of their friends and relations, distributing tila seed mixed with sugar. At the time of putting the tila seed into the parties' hands, they repeat these words : Receive these tila seeds mixed with sugar, and be friendly with me throughout the year.' All the praise and prayers offered this day are to the sun, and to no other god. The second day of Sankranti is named Kar, and is generally celebrated by the women making small presents among their own sex.