'Sankranti'

  March 14th is a day on which the position of the earth in relation to the Sun marks a shift from the Southern Tropic of Capricorn, Uttrayana (Karkataka vrutta) to the Northern Tropic of Cancer. This is the day of celebration for farmers to offer puja to their farmlands with great fervour. It's also a harvest celebration! The significance of the shift in the earth's position is that the last direct sunrays can reach any one of the Tropic of Capricorn (Dakshinayana) or the Tropic of Cancer and the rays become inclined further North or South, respectively untll finally, only the Arctic or the Antarctic Circle gets the last rays of the Sun! Thus, the angle at which the sunrays reach the earth's surface is important for us.

 The Sun sines overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer from March 14th onwards for six months until September 22. Then the position of the direct rays of the Sun shifts to Southern Tropic. These two points are the beginning of summer for Northern and the Southern regions, respectively. The direct rays of the sun gives more heat. Thus, these days assume great importance.

  'Sankranti' or sankramana is called an auspicious time (punya kala)a). The terms 'ayana' is path and 'uttara' is Northern, meaning, (a shift to) the Northern path of the Sun. It is an important day when the earth gets the Sunrays directly (at 90 Deg.) on the Tropic of Cancer (makara sankranti vrutta).The Bhagavad-Gita states that these six months are the months of Light and darkness for the devi devata who have six month days and six month night. These are also called dark (dhoomra) and the bright days that decide when the departed souls pass through to reach the heavens!  The soul can easily find way in Uttrayana when it is the day of Devata! The soul cannot find way and return during the Dakshinayana when it is dark and night for the Devata! However, a jnyani, a sage will not be bothered because of the Light, jnyan, he has attained within!