Lazoi Wishes a Happy Republic Day 2016

Republic Day in India is celebrated every year with great pride on 26th of January to honour the Constitution of India as it came into force this very day in the year 1950. It had replaced the Government of India Act, 1935 into the governing document of the India. On this day, a national holiday is declared by the Indian Government. The new Indian constitution was sketched and approved by the Indian Constituent Assembly and decided to celebrate it on 26th of January every year as India became a republic country.

This year, the chief guest on Indian Republic Day (67^th) will be the French President Francois Hollande.  The Government of India has confirmed that he’ll be the chief guest of famous Republic Day parade on 26^th January.

Highlights of Indian Republic Day 2016

·         This is the first time since 1950 that the French are participating in the Republic Day parade of India together with the Indian Armed Forces.

·         In accordance with the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”, cleanliness would be ensured in surrounding areas and statues of great personalities.

·   After 26 years, Indian Army dogs will be seen participating in the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath. Approx 36 Indian Army dogs including 24 Labradors and 12 German Shepherds will take part in the parade. These dogs have been preparing for the last 4 months for an absolute performance.

·       This is the first time in the history of Republic Day Parade that there will be no BSF camel contingent participation in 2016.

Republic Day celebrations

As Independence Day in India is celebrated to enjoy the freedom of India from the British Rule, Republic Day in India is celebrated to commemorate the coming of its own constitution into force. Officially, it is celebrated every year in the National Capital of India (New Delhi) at the Rajpath in the presence of the President of India. Small celebrations also take place in the state capitals in the presence of the governor of the state by spreading out the National Flag of the country.

January 26 is celebrated throughout the India with great enthusiasm by the students and teachers in the schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions. An excellent parade and salute event is held by the military team at the Rajpath in front of the India Gate in the New Delhi, India.

On Republic Day, National awards (Maha Veer Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Param Veer Chakra, and Veer Chakra) and bravery medals are also distributed at this day to the soldiers of armed forces, common people and students from the school. Armed forces helicopters do parade in the surrounding area of the India Gate to shower the rose petals over audience. A dance parade by singing patriotic songs is also performed by the school children. Armed Forces staff performs the motorcycle rides whereas the staff from the Indian Air Force perform fly parade through the fighter planes (making tri colour of the Indian Flag by the smoke) for offering the honour salute to the president.

A range of traditional and cultural programs are performed by the professionals from different states to focus the history and culture of the country. Special security is organized at this day because of the huge crowed and prevent the common people from any problem.

Why Republic Day holds much significance?

Republic Day is the symbol of true spirit for the independent India where military parades, exhibiting military equipments, salute to the national flag by the Indian president and variety of events are take place at this day. India is a country having people of different cultures, societies, religions and languages who interplay with each other harmoniously. Independence to the India is the great pride as it was obtained over years after facing a variety of obstacles and hurdles.

Republic Day is celebrated in very colourful and exhilarating ways in order to make memorable and significant celebration of the year. National Anthem is sung by the people participating in the celebrations. This celebration brings the Indian fraternity together at one place.

Religious Implications of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is India’s major festival. This day, sun moves from Tropic of Capricorn (Dakhshinayan) to Tropic of Cancer (Uttarayana). Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different states of nation with different names. In Tamil Nadu, it is called Pongal. In Assam, it is celebrated as Magh Bihu and Bhogal Bihu. In states of Punjab and Haryana, it is celebrated as Lohri festival. In Uttar Pradesh, it is celebrated as Khichdi or Donation festival. In Bihar, it is known as Til Sankranti or Khichdi festival.

Religious beliefs associated with Makar Sankranti

The way Makar Sankranti is celebrated in every state of India with faith and joy; it can be guessed that the festival has some religious beliefs. This festival is mentioned in many of our religious text which enlighten about the festival’s religious significance. The religious scripture, “Gita” which is known as the voice of Lord Krishna, illustrates that six months of Uttarayana is the day time of deity. And, the 6 months of Dakhshinayan is the night for Gods.  It is believed that person who scarifies his body in Uttarayana gets a position in ‘Krishna Lok’. That person gets liberation, whereas, the one who dies in Dakhshinayan, has to be reborn. 

In the era of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pithama had a blessing of wish death. Although lying on the bed of arrows, he did not sacrifice his life in the Dakhshinayan, and waited for the Sun to go in Uttarayana. It is believed that on the day of Makar Sankranti, when sun entered in the Uttarayana, Bhishma Pithama discarded his body.

In the case of Makar Sankranti, there is one more religious story which states that, Yashoda Mata kept fast to have Lord Krishna as her son. The story of Gangawatran is also linked with Makar Sankranti. It is said that on the day of Makar Sankranti, Ganga followed Bhagirath Muni and met the ocean. Conjunction of Ganga and ocean is the reason behind crowd of devotees taking bath in Ganagasagar on Makar Sankranti.

Capricorn is a sign of Saturn. On the day of Makar Sankranti, sun enters into the sign of Saturn. Sun God is the father of Saturn. Father goes to meet his son in his home. Saturn and Sun, both are might planets, whose auspicious blessings can make humans achieve great success. Hence, on the holy festival of Makar Sankranti people delight sun and Saturn.

The Festival of Truth, Virtue and Religion

Night is considered as the symbol of sin, false and wrong doings, whereas, day is regarded as the symbol of truth, virtue and religion. So, when it is day for Gods, all work of virtue is performed. The fruit of work is also good. On the day of Makar Sankranti when sun enters the Uttarayana, days become long and night becomes shorter. From this day the doors of Heaven are opened, so people celebrate the auspicious occasion.

The Festival of Blessings

From the day of Makar Sankranti, the sun enters in Uttarayana resulting in long days. Married women pray to Sun God for long life of their husbands and give gifts to their elders, in return take blessing that the way days are getting longer, similarly, the life of their husbands also keep increasing.

Inspired by all these beliefs and feelings people celebrate the festival of Makar Sankranti. 

Celebrating the festival of Lohri

Lohri is a festival connected with the solar year. Generally, it is an accepted fact that this festival is celebrated to worship fire. This is particularly a happy occasion for the couples, who would be celebrating Lohri for the first time after marriage and, also for the family who are blessed with a son as he would be celebrating his first ever Lohri. Celebrated enthusiastically in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and parts of Himachal Pradesh, it signifies the beginning of the end of winter.

The day begins with children collecting money from houses in the neighbourhood. Children go from door to door singing songs in praise of Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi version of Robin Hood who robbed the rich and helped the poor. These "visitors" are given either money or gajak, til bhuga, moong phali, gur and rewri. In the evening, a bonfire is lit, winter savouries are served around the bonfire and everyone gathers around it. Munchies, collected from each house, are thrown into the fire.

The festival assumes greater significance if there has been a happy event in the family during the elapsed year, like the birth of a male child or marriage. The family then plays host to relatives and friends, wherein the eateries take a back seat and merry-making takes over. Bhangra, dhol, gidda and light-hearted flirtation rein the overall scenario. Liquor flows freely and guests are served dinner. A popular belief in this region is that if someone seeks a radish roasted in the bonfire lit by a family that has reason to celebrate, then blessings are bestowed on the family of the seeker as well.

Geographically speaking, the earth leans towards the sun along the Tropic of Capricorn (Makara Rekha) from the day following Lohri, also known as Winter Solstice. The earth, farthest from the sun at this point of time, starts its journey towards the sun along its elliptical orbit, thus heralding in the onset of spring. It is this transition which is celebrated as Lohri in Northern India, as Makara Sankranti in the central part of the country and as Pongal Sankranti in South India.

In South India, the festival is spread over three days and signifies the beginning of harvesting season. A rath yatra is taken out from the Kandaswamy temple in Chennai on Pongal. The day is celebrated as Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. According to a belief, Hindus purify their sins by taking bath in the Ganges. A big fair is also held on the Sagara Island, 64 km from the Diamond Harbour where the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal.

Call it Lohri, Pongal or Sankranti, the festival conveys the same message that the bond of brotherhood and the spirit of oneness should prevail despite all odds! 

Lazoi wishes you a very Happy Lohri