Makar Sankranti Puja 14 Jan 1996, Pune, India (Hindi/English/Marathi) Translation from Hindi: Today, we have assembled here to perform the puja of the Sun God on the day of Sankranti. In our country, a lot of importance has been given to the puja of the Sun God and there is a custom to offer Arghya (water offering) to the Sun God and even in the foreign countries, Sun has been given a lot of importance. Their astrology and other scriptures is dependent on the Sun. During Sankranti, on 14 day of January, the Sun shifts from his existing position and comes to North, and that is the reason why we celebrate Sankranti with a lot of belief. But, before this earth motion, from 22 December to 14 January, the weather is severely cold. Many people suffer during this cold weather. They catch cold and face other such health problems. Then this is called the period of infection (‘sankraman’). It will become very cold, more than required. On account of this cold weather, number of problems arises. But, there is also benefit on account of this cold. That is, whatever worms and such similar things which move about and give problems in this season in this county, they recede to their resting place; most of them are destroyed also. Many people die on account of cold. Meaning, that in India cold is such that whatever parasites exist, they all get killed. It is also important that in India, cold should be Read More …