In the Hindu solar calendar, Tula Sankranti, sometimes called Tula Sankramana, is a festival that commemorates the sun’s entry into the sign of Libra (Tula). This festival, which falls around the middle of October every year, marks the beginning of the fortunate month of Kartika. The following are some specifics on Tula Sankranti:
Importance: Tula Sankranti signifies the sun’s passage from Virgo (Kanya) to Libra (Tula). In Vedic astrology, this transition is important because it affects agricultural cycles and seasonal variations.
Harvest Festival: Tula Sankranti, which signifies the conclusion of the monsoon season and the start of the harvesting season, is observed as a harvest festival in various parts of the world.
Equinox Connection: The autumnal equinox, which occurs around this time of year when day and night are roughly equal and represent harmony and balance, is approaching.
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Customs and Festivities
Holy Dips: To purify themselves and ask for blessings, devotees bathe in holy rivers, particularly those in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. At this period, rivers like the Kaveri are especially important.
Different Pujas: To honour the sun deity Surya and other deities, temples perform unique pujas and ceremonies. In order to achieve prosperity and well-being, devotees make several offerings and give prayers.
Charity & Donations: Giving food, clothing, and money to the less fortunate is regarded as an auspicious deed. This is a practice that is said to provide blessings and good karma.
Feasting: Family and friends prepare and share traditional dishes and desserts. While regional specialties differ, seasonal produce is frequently used in them.
Regional Differences:
Karnataka: Tula Sankranti is widely observed and celebrated in Karnataka. One of the main events is the Kaveri Sankramana, or holy dip in the Kaveri River. At the river’s source, the Talakaveri temple, people come to pray and take holy dips.
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Tamil Nadu: This event, which takes place amid the Navaratri celebrations, is known as Ayudha Puja or Saraswati Puja in Tamil Nadu. It’s a time to honour instruments, literature, and tools as a way of showing appreciation for our abilities and knowledge.
Kerala: This festival, called Thulam Sankranti, is marked by ceremonies and sacrifices made to the ancestors. Water offerings, or tarpanam, are made by people as a way to thank and ask for blessings from their ancestors.
Maharashtra: Customary rites and offerings are used to commemorate the event in Maharashtra. In order to attract prosperity and good fortune, people go to temples and do pujas.
Cultural Considerations:
Folk customs: The festivities include a variety of folk customs, dances, and musical acts. The local culture and sense of community are reflected in these cultural events.
Agricultural Significance: There is a strong connection between the event and the agricultural cycle. Farmers give thanks for the harvest and offer prayers for an abundant crop in the future.
Educational Importance: The event is held in some areas around the worship of the goddess of learning, Saraswati. Students present their study aids and books to the goddess in order to ask for her blessings on wisdom and academic success.
Astrological Significance
Harmony and Balance: Libra, the sign of the scales, stands for harmony and balance. The significance of these attributes in life is emphasised by the event.
Sun’s Influence: In Vedic astrology, the sun’s entry into Libra has an effect on people’s life, affecting their general well-being, prosperity, and health.
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Current Changes
Community Services: To commemorate the event, several towns host health camps, blood drives, and other volunteer endeavours.
Eco-friendly Celebrations: People are choosing eco-friendly customs, reducing their plastic consumption, and encouraging sustainable habits as a result of increased environmental consciousness.
Tula Sankranti is a festival that combines social friendship, cultural legacy, and religious devotion. It’s a time to give thanks for the harvest, respect the sun’s life-giving force, and ask for blessings of wealth and harmony in one’s life.
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Date – 17th Oct, 2024
Day – Thursday
Tula Sankranti Punya Kala – 06:23 to 11:41
Tula Sankranti Maha Punya Kala – 06:23 to 09:47
