Fwd: Happy Lohri / Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Magh Bihu.

[Hindu Media]

Makar Sankranti  is the auspicious day in which Sun enter’s the Makar Rashi. From this day, Sun starts shining more over India / Nepal / Pakistan / Bangladesh / Sri Lanka / Malaysia, where 99% of world's 105 Crore Hindu’s reside.   This day is celebrated in different names in different parts of India as well as Nepal etc.   Indian State of Punjab celebrate this festival as “Lohri”, a day before Sankranti day.   Rest of North India as well as South India except Tamil Nadu celebrate this day as Makar Sankranti. In this day people bath in Holy River Ganges at Haridwar, Triveni Sangam in Allahabad etc.   Hindu’s of southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu as well as Tamil speaking Hindu’s living in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji etc are celebrating this festival in the name of “Pongal”.   But in 2011, Lohri falls on 13th January, 2011, Makar Sankranti falls on 14th January, 2011 and Pongal on 15th Janury, 2011.   Makar Sankranti marks the end of the 41 day pilgrimage to Sabarimala. Sabarimala Pilgrimage is the world’s second largest pilgrimage after the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.   Sabarimala is situated in southern Indian state of Kerala, where more than 3 Crore Hindu’s from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh visits every year.   According to statistical records, Sabarimala is the Hindu shrine where largest number of Hindu’s visits followed by Tirupathi Balaji in Andhra Pradesh in second position, followed Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine in Jammu & Kashmir in third position.   According Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board records, 82 Lakh people visited the shrine from 01.01.2010 to 30.11.2010.   Hindu’s living in the North East Indian State of Assam celebrate this festivel as “Magh Bihu”.   We wish all 105 Crore Hindu’s living in all parts of this earth, a very very Happy and Prosperous Lohri / Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Bihu.   Centre for Hindu Media Research and Studies, Palam Road, Najafgarh, New Delhi – 110 043.