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According
to the Hindu religious texts, on the day of Uttarayani,
the sun enters the Zodiacal sign of 'Makar' (Capricon)
from the Zodiacal sign of the Kark (Cancer), i.e. from
this day onwards the sun becomes 'Uttarayan' or it starts
moving to the north. It is said that from this day, which
signals a change of season, the migratory birds start
returning to the hills.
On Makar Sankranti people give Khichadi (a mixture of
pulses and rice) in charity, take ceremonial dips
in holy rivers, participate in the
Uttarayani fairs
and celebrate the festival of
Ghughutia or
Kale Kauva.
During the festival of Kale Kauva (literal translation
'black crow') people make sweetmeats out of sweetened
flour (flour and gur) deep fried in ghee, shape them like
drums, pomegranates, knives, swords etc.
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They are
strung togather and worn as necklace-in the middle of
which an oragne in fixed. Early in the morning children
wear these necklaces and sing "Kale Kauva.." to attract
crows and other birds and offer them portions of these
necklaces, as a token of welcome for all the migratory
birds, who are now coming back after their winter sojourn
in the plains.
Wearing
garlands of the above eatables the children come out
calling the crows with following song on their lips:
Kale Kale, bhol bate aile
bor puwa Khale
Ie Kauva bara, mai ke de sunu gharo
Ie Kauva dhal, mai ke de sunu thai.
(come
dear crow, come daily
you will enjoy eating bara and puwa.
Take the bara and give me a pitcher full of gold Take the
shield and give me a golden plate). |
