'Makar Sankranti' is the addition of Sweet 'Tilgul', Politeness and Blessings
'Makar Sankranti' day, refers to a specific solar day in the Hindu calendar dedicated to the Lord Sun. This is the day of a celestial event about the triumph of light over darkness. But, there is something beyond the traditional importance of this festival. Something that is missed by many even in the world of Communication.
The Tagline (in media context) that is in Marathi, 'Tilgul ghya ... goad bola' which literally means, 'Have this sweet ... be sweet (kind / humble / polite) in return'.
Every individual, goes through the experiences of having miscommunication throughout the year. To be specific, in cases of interpersonal communication either the individual has hurt someones emotions or got his / her emotions hurt. Now, these two individuals are not at all in good terms and this lack of Communication has made one individual 'lost' for the other. The reasons prominently for this are - the situation, the nature of the individuals and basically their maturity. The way in which they can come together is mutual i.e. interpersonal communication, with the initiative of atleast one. Now, a festival like 'Makar Sankranti' in the scene.
One individual offers just a small piece of sweet to the other and wishes, "Makarsankranti nimitta shubhecha! Tilgul ghya goad bola!" This means, Happy Makarsankranti! I offer you this sweet and expect you to be polite and sweet in return!" This approach will tie the relations of those 'lost' friends or relations and they may come together everafter. The same ritual is for the newly met individuals, those who even don't know each other, those who are colleagues in Service or Business, family members and relatives, applicable to any individual who wants to break the ice and develop a healthy relation. It's about a religious - cum - cultural festival, it's about the basics of Communication and Relations.
Since when 'Makar Sankranti' has been practised, the topics like Human Behaviour, Communication Skills etc. did not even exist in the West. But in India, the Hindus with inmates of other religions were clear with the basics of Humanities and Communication. Going still deeper, it's interesting to note that traditionally 'Tilgul' is a sweet which is offered by elders to the younger. The elder means to say, "I have sweetened your words with this sweet, now I expect you to be polite and respect me." The younger accepts and eats the sweet 'Tigul' may also offer his one to the elder, touches the feet and takes blessings of the elder.
So well have the ancestors thought about the Psychology of relations and the importance of Communication for the Society to be together! Today, we need Consellors and Psychatrists to 'manage' inter personal relationship. Our Festival binds people together through celebration, centuries before the West had realized the secrets of starting, maintaining and developing relations.
So interesting and fascinating are the aspects of this festival 'Makar Sankranti'. Competitions of kite - flying are organized in which a team cuts the string of the flying kite of another team. But so healthy is the competition that both the teams, celebrate the results equally. Is this not the team spirit or sportsman spirit which so much hyped commercially today? The second is the season - to - health relation which was understood centuries ago in India, that is about 'Tilgul'. During this part of the year, winter is at the peak and summer is about to set in India. The sweet stuff called 'Tilgul' has ingredients 'Til' and 'Gul' ( Sesame and Jaggery respectively) which generate heat in human body. What can be a better festival sweet providing heat to the body when winter is at the peak!
Science and Technology will always play a crucial role in life in future. But wisdom, knowledge and theories of the past also need to be given consideration and importance. All readers can plan to celebrate 'Makar Sankrant', irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, nationality or religion. Festivals are meant to make the world a beautiful place!
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