TRIBALS OBSERVED MAKAR FESTIVAL
BY Akshya Rout
Jajpur,Jan. 15: Large numbers tribals observed Makar Sankranti in the tribal dominated villages of Jajpur district on Friday. This festival, unlike other Hindu festivals, is not dependent on the position of the moon, but on position of the sun.
On this day, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn. To compensate for the difference that occurs due to the revolution around the sun, every eighty years the day of sankrant is postponed by one day. In the present period Makar-sankrant falls on 14th January. Benefit of highest merit acquired by a Holy dip on the day of Makarsankrant: The time from sunrise to sunset on Makar-sankrant is auspicious. A Holy dip during this period carries special significance.
It is widely accepted that there is an inseparable relation between God and dance in tribal culture for which tribals danced on Thursday . The tribes celebrated their festival with gusto and fervor. More than 60% of the population of tribals in Jajpur depends on agriculture and therefore most of their festivals revolve round agriculture.
They consider their festivals sacred and so participation in these festivals including Makar festival is compulsory. farmers and so it was celebrated in a grand manner in villages. “On the day of Sankranti the sun enters the makar rashi. We make laddoos and halwa and in this cold weather, the ingredients give us heat,” Manika Majhi of Gobaraghati village.
Sukinda MLA and minister Pritiranjan Ghadei were present On this occasion and dance with traval Ghadai also highlighted various steps undertaken by the Naveen Patnaik Government for the betterment of the poor tribal, he also highlighted the BJD Government’s works for development of tribals and assured to take care of the local people among others,Sukinda chairman Dibyaranjan baral, Danagadi block chairperson Archana Das, Youth leader Pradip kumar mohanty, and others were present on this occasion.
