Yes. You read it right; it is maker samkranti – not makara sankaranti. Bleddy.

Anyway, let me share some belated greetings, notes & images…

1

Of course, the Hindus of Bharat have traditionally been very good with Astronomy & associated Mathematics & also have had much fun with Astrology 🙄 and the like.

However.

The issue with having way too much fun is that we also ended up producing way too many instances of the abominable & cringe-worthy species like Smt Jayasree Saranathan, Sri Nilesh Nilkanth Oak, Sri PVR Narasimha Rao et al, some of nⁿ bete noires of mine.

2

Around 1998 or so, I got to know & understand about how erroneously we celebrate Pongal (= makara samkranti, apparently) based on absolutely wrong dates/justifications…

Anyway, leave alone that asinine mistake – we indeed seem to take pride in our ignorance, which is what is galling, to say the least.

My teacher in this respect was that incredibly fantastic Chitpavan Acharya (who I shall not name – suffice to say that he was from a village near Pune) on whom I have written a couple of posts in Tamil.

சித்பவன்காரர், காந்தி, கோட்ஸே, ஜோதிடம் – சில குறிப்புகள் (1/2) – February 23, 2015

சித்பவன்காரர், காந்தி, கோட்ஸே, ஜோதிடம் – சில குறிப்புகள் (2/2) – February 23, 2015

The basic idea – that is, scientific facts, firm evidences, practiced traditions AND smrti-pauranic-itihasic based one at that, is:

In Bharat, we had ALWAYS celebrated the starting date of uttarayana (north bound ‘movement’ of the Sun, as we see it from our mothership Earth), or winter solstice if you will (around 21st December of a given year, as of now) which is THE shortest day in a given year – as Makara Samkranti.

Let us please ALSO note that, in the age-old Bharatiya traditions – we have had no Zodiacal (or Rashis & their associated ‘signs’) ideas in The Vedic literature or even in the Vedangas; let us please understand that ‘Jyothisha’ as in 1/6 Vedangas is about mathematical-prediction approaches of the movement of the Sun & the Moon.

So.

Calling the offending ‘harvest festival’ (as it has been transmogrified into now) as Makar(a) Samkranti is not a great idea – especially calling it a canonically vedic usage/terminology.

By no means let us stop celebrating Pongal – but let us not confuse it with ‘uttarayanam’ and the like.

OTOH, if we are serious about associating Pongal++ with the ‘movement of the Sun’ – let us please move the Pongal dates to the ones of Winter Solstice – circa Dec 21.

🙏🏾 🕉

Dr Koenraad Elst has written about it in 2020: The real Uttarayana

Sri Avtar Krishen Kaul in 2017: When should Pongal/Makar Samkranti be celebrated and why?

The above two essays are chock-a-block full of references & are examples of great scholarship. I hazily seem to recall that Sri Kaul had posted very lucid ideas around the current topic on the USENET a decade ago or so. (Gotta check; ever since USENET archives/hosting etc were taken over by dejanews and later by Google, there is not much motivation to trawl there for gems) :-(

3

So.

I have generally (and personally) been celebrating ‘pongal’ types during winter solstice & not attempt to do ‘much’ with the hyped up Pongal etc & its associated frenzy etc; and of course, I do not harangue even my relatives to ‘correct’ themselves.

As you might have guessed, I am also interested in retaining my ol’ pals/friends even as their number has now dwindled down to some single digit etc.

Anyway.

Around 2010 or so, I ‘hit’ upon the idea of celebrating ‘Maker(s) Day’ as a pun on makara samkranti, on the day of Pongal – to work with hands-on stuff, about designing & making things; having ‘fun’ with kids and making stuff.

If I remember correctly, it went on for a couple of years, but then there is an obvious limit to being totally weird, um, meaning me. :-( :-)

So, I stopped. I have no illusions of being a reformer, no resplendent halos around my abominably hollow skull.

I also remember that I have to limit my (af)fronts of operation & belligerence.

Besides, Pongal tastes really good. Yum.

4

I love it when young learners/tinkerers are so focused on their work that they don’t even realize that they are supposed to be eating ‘pongal’ and not mess around with mechanisms & electronics at the workshop/lab.

They don’t even notice when some random joker is taking photographs of them.

…However, I do agree that the lad is celebrating in his own way, Maker Samkranti.

My weird idea of working with budding engineers and designers – is happening or so I tell myself.

Of course based on EXACTLY one data point. 🙄

But, the future belongs to the indefatigable tinkerers & makers…

May the community of makers, inventors & engineers grow!

May Samkrantis happen continuously, growing from strength to strength, so that we Bharatiyas reach greater heights.

Again, may The Makers make the new Bharat come alive for us!

(and of course, may the horrorscopes of the Jihadis and Evangelicals decline…)

🙏🏾 🕉

Postscriptum: I know I have been taking break after break in the past few months, not posting anything random (as usual), not responding to emails or whatsapp messages etc etc; but let me warn my beloved & tragic band of 7½s that - their honeymoon is likely to get over soon.

My advance condolences and apologies…

…stay tuned(out)!