The harvest festival is celebrated throughout in India. In Bangalore it is known as Sankranthi and marks the beginning of the harvest season. Men, women and children wear colorful clothing and visit freinds and neighbors. They exchange sweet dishes made from coconut, molasses and seasame seeds as well as sugarcane. This is a way of wishing that only sweetness will visit those involved in the exchange. Special prayers are also offered on this auspicious day.
Cows and bulls are also decorated for the festival and fed sweets too. In the evening, the cattle are led out in procession to the beat of drums and music. A bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire. The Sri Gavi Gangadhareswara Temple of Bangalore is special importance since it was specifically designed to have sunlight pass through the bull idol's horns and light up the Shiva Lingam (another type of idol) for one hour on this day each year.
As Sankranthi is celebrated today, please pray that the harvest fields in Bangalore would be ripe. Ask God to do a mighty work among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains and Christians. Pray that God would call out more laborers to join His work in Bangalore.
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| Photo from IndiaShots website |
Cows and bulls are also decorated for the festival and fed sweets too. In the evening, the cattle are led out in procession to the beat of drums and music. A bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire. The Sri Gavi Gangadhareswara Temple of Bangalore is special importance since it was specifically designed to have sunlight pass through the bull idol's horns and light up the Shiva Lingam (another type of idol) for one hour on this day each year.
As Sankranthi is celebrated today, please pray that the harvest fields in Bangalore would be ripe. Ask God to do a mighty work among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains and Christians. Pray that God would call out more laborers to join His work in Bangalore.
