Why Khichdi on Makar Sankranti?

It’s so amazing that in India, we have so many reasons to celebrate and every day is some or the other auspicious occasion. We choose the one that we wish to celebrate and the life rises above the ground. 

There are many Navratri’s and we celebrate atleast two in a year, Deepawali, Holi, Akshaya Tritiya, Makar sankranti, Somvati Amavasya, various Jayanti’s etc…the list goes round the year, giving us chance to celebrate life and enjoy each moment.

 

Today is also such an eventful day…. Makar sankranti. This day Sun changes its direction of movement commencing closure of winters, the day duration starts increasing everyday and day temperatures starts rising. The weather goes in for a change.

We had gone to the temple with lots of offerings and a kid there in the temple was amazingly checking out the offerings by everyone, containing rice, pulse, salt and heat providing foods like sesame fudge, peanuts and some other preparations.

I kept on observing his curiosity and once I was sure that this curiosity is now taking form of a question, I walked upto him and asked what is he thinking?

He said, am not sure why everyone is getting these things for offering? Why we are offering these eatables today only and not regularly? Why are we offering Khichdi mix and peanuts also, when a diet could be Khichdi itself? I am curious to know the reason for such offerings.

Did you discuss it with someone, I asked.

He said, yeah! I asked my mom at home. When we started for the temple, she mixed pulses and rice and kept in a plate along with a bottle of ghee and a pack of salt. She then brought peanuts, Rewari and Gajak.

This is not even what she offers us? Then why is she offering this at temple.

Rewari and Gajak are special preparation of Gur and sesame, peanuts, etc. These are consumed in winter to fight cold.

He had a valid question and I remember Aishwarya, my daughter asked me this question few years back. It was an intelligent question; we keep on following something that had scientific reason so mechanically that people take it as a part of belief and miss out on its real basis. Then years later these are termed by others as an orthodox belief. 

I asked that boy to come with me and sit on one side in the temple near a Jalhari. I was happy to know his curiosity and hence congratulated him that he is blessed with this observation power and curiosity. 

He asked, could you please answer my question and help me understand this unresolved mystery?

Sure, let me attempt.

Ok, just wanted to know that what you eat in winters during night to guard us against chilling cold in the night. 

We eat peanuts, Rewari and Gazak as these gives heat to our body, he replied.

Ok, do you eat these things in summers also?

No, summers are already hot, he said.

Done, then you will agree these things are offered as winters are still there and will help in keeping body warm. 

You know that there is something else happening in our solar system during this time especially on our planet earth. In this state of transition, winters are going and summers are coming. This fact is known to most of us about Makar Sankranti as Sunny days starts becoming longer and warm but nights are cold. These peanuts, rewari, gazak helps in keeping body warm during nights.

He said, that’s OK but why is Khichri offered? What is its significance?

It has a deeper significance, so please relax and listen.

Mother earth goes round Sun in its orbit but also moves along its own axis. This movement causes Sun facing part of the earth move up and down. Indian astrologers found that as the winters set in Sun moves away from India and reaches oceans near Sri Lanka during this period. It’s Makar Sankranti, when Sun stops moving further down the ocean and reverses its direction. This stopping point, this point of turning is Makar Sankranti. This is the stopover where winter is at peak but the days starts becoming warmer and hence these offerings.

Sure, could understand relevance of peanuts, rewari and gazak but am still curious to know that why do we offer Khichdi? 

Keep patience, my child. You will shortly know that you could share with your friends also.

Could you share what does ocean water contains?

He said, ocean water contains salt, aquatic animals like fish, crocodile, etc. 

Good, it will be easy to understand now. 

You know Tantra details Panchmakars for the penance and Meen or fish is one of the Makaar. The wise has noted that in Sattvic tradition Meen Makaar is Akshat. Akshat is a Sanskrit word for something that you call as rice. 

So, you now need salt to add to our normal water preparation of rice. This is prepared under the Solar heat. The taste and nourishment happens with gaughrit and consumed. It helps our body to ensure balance of water and still nourishes without being load on our digestive system as our system understands these astral changes and aligns bodily secretions. 

Yeah! its easy to understand now. I am just wondering that this Khichdi offering is like a sattvik ocean food, it’s like sea water containing fish, pulse, salt, etc. which is cooked and garnished with gaughrit to provide full nourishment while keeping digestion system light. 

Thank you very much, he said. Now, I know this and will share it with all my friends.

I saw a grace on his face. He was happy, his eyes were smiling and his way of walking out of the temple communicated his happiness.