Makara Sankranti 2014: The Holiest Day

Makara Sankranti, Pongal or Magh Bihu, though it is called by many names, it stands for one common thing - Harvest Festival. This festival which occurs on January 14 every year is a grand gala celebration. Read on...

Celebrating Harvest Festival - Region Wise

Makara Sankranti will be observed on 14th of January, 2014. Makara Sankranti is a festival celebrated with great zeal and zest all over the country. This harvest festival is known by many names depending on the region it is being celebrated. While Makara Sankranti is name followed in majority of the states of India, it is also known as Pongal in the state of Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab, Magh Bihu in Assam, Uttarayan in Gujarat and so on. We will give you an idea of different rituals and customs followed in various states in this article. 

Makara Sankranti

Makara Sankranti, the grand harvest festival is celebrated to mark the journey of sun towards north. As Sankranti festival is celebrated as per the solar calendar, the date remains the same every year, January 14. The actual definition for the word Sankranti is the journey of sun from one zodiac sign to another. But now-a-days, Sankranti is more popularly known as the harvest festival. People thank the Gods for a good harvest and share the joy with one and all. One of the main attractions of Makara Sankranti is the tradition of Kite flying.

Pongal Or Bhogi

Pongal is the festival celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu. This festival is celebrated for a period of four days. The first day is the Bhogi festival, which symbolizes new beginning. As such, people follow the tradition of getting rid of all the old stuff by throwing them into the bonfire. The second day is the Surya Pongal, when the traditional Pongal (sweet dish) is prepared and the Sun God is worshipped. The third day is called as the Mattu (cow) Pongal. On this day cows, which are one of the main sources for agriculture are worshipped. The main attraction of this day is the Jallikattu (bull fighting). The fourth and the final day is called the Kaanum Pongal, where in people visit the dear and near ones to exchange sweets and gifts. This Festival is also known as ‘Ellu Beerodu’ in Karnataka, celebrated by the people of Kannada community; and in the state of Andhra Pradesh, this festival is called as Sankranti or ‘Pedda Pandiga’ (big festival). 

Magh Bihu In Assam

Magh Bihu is the harvest festival of Assam. This festival is all about extravagant celebrations, which last for weeks. Many traditions are followed by the people of Assam during the Magh Bihu like Tekeli Bhonga, which is the breaking of earthen pots and bull fighting. People from near and far get their bulls to participate in the annual festivals for attractive prize money. This festival goes on for weeks where in makeshift huts are built, in which festive food is served to enjoy. Once the food is eaten, the huts are burned down as per the traditions which are followed. 

Every festival comes alive when celebrated with dear ones. In that context, mother nature is a dear one here. Sankranti, the harvest festival brings everyone closer to mother nature and gives us a chance to thank her for all the good that has been bestowed on us. With this, we wish one and all a very happy Makara Sankranti 2014!

Free Mobile Kundli

Free Horoscope Matching

Sensex - Nifty Astrology Predictions (14.01.2014)

Planets position on 14th January 2014 at 09:15am at Mumbai

• Lagna in Aquarius
• Mercury in Capricorn
• Saturn & Rahu in Libra
• Ketu in Aries
• Moon & Jupiter in Gemini
• Mars in Virgo
• Venus & Sun in Sagittarius

Planetary Aspects

Sun conjoins Venus and sextiles Saturn. Saturn trines Jupiter. Venus Squares Mars. Jupiter conjoins Moon & opposites Sun and Venus.

Panchang

Tithi: Shukla Chaturdasi

Nakshatra: Ardra

Yoga: Indra

Karana: Gara

Selling pressure will be seen in electrical, power, IT, telecommunications, coal, steel and auto sectors.

Persons having Taurus and Capricorn Moon signs/ Lagna will be financially affected today. They should refrain from money matters today.

We suggest the readers not to indulge in any kind of speculation like day trading, but invest astrologically as per their individual horoscopes for long term to gain profits.

Disclaimer: The predictions made herein are for information purposes and are not recommendations to any person to buy or sell any securities. We only use astrological analysis, so target are not based on any technical or fundamental analysis but only on the experience of an astrologer. Its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. The information provided herein is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities of any kind. The Astrologer and the company do not accept any liability for the use of this column. Readers of this column who buy or sell securities based on the information in this column are solely responsible for their actions. And author won't be liable or responsible for any legal or financial losses made by anyone.

By Rajeev K Khattar

• Which Stocks/ Sectors Will Suit Me?

Free Mobile Kundli

Free Horoscope Matching

Pradosh Vrat: Eliminate The Misdeeds

Pradosh Vrat, a path to overcome negative karmas by pleasing Lord Shiva, falls twice a month. The Lord with supreme power forgives all the sins, mistakes and other bad karmas if prayed with faith and loyalty. Let’s understand the day in detail...

Shivaya Namah Om Bhavaya Namaha | Bhavaya Namah Om Namah Shivaya ||

What Is Pradosham?

The term ‘Pradosh’ means getting relief from sins and negative karmas. It prevails after the sunset for 2 hours 24 minutes and therefore, that duration is known as ‘Pradosh Kaal’. It is believed that one who worships Lord Shiva during Pradosh Kaal gets relief from all the evil deeds and mistakes. 

Weekly Pradosham

Monday/ Soma Pradosham: Bestows the observer with health and all his wishes are fulfilled. 

Tuesday/ Bhauma Pradosham: For those who are facing financial crunches, observing Bhauma Pradosham is very helpful. Also, it is very effective against diseases and ailments.

Wednesday: Pradosham occurring on Wednesday has great importance for the childless couples. Married couples, who do not have any child, observe this Pradosham to get blessed with their progeny. 

Thursday/ Guru Pradosham: Guru Pradosham helps the observer in raising his confidence level which further helps him to defeat his enemies. 

Saturday/ Shani Pradosham/ Maha Pradosham: Shani Pradosham is very effective and is meant for the happy married life of the couples. 

You may also like to read Pradosh Fast significance and legend. Click here to read about it - Pradosh Fast Significance & Legend

Rituals Followed During Pradosham

To begin with the rituals, the observer takes shower before the sunset. After wearing clean clothes, he/she commences the Puja by worshipping Lord Shiva. To worship Him, His idol or Shivlinga or Nataraja Avatar is needed. Along with the Him, following Gods are also worshipped:

• Goddess Parvati
• Kartikeya
• Ganesha
• Nandi

During the Puja, a Kalasha (metal pot) is filled with water followed by covering the Kalasha with Durva grass (Cynodon Dactyl). A lotus is drawn on the surface of the grass. After it, flowers, rice, betel nuts, betel leaf and coin are offered to Shiva. To please the deity, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is chanted for 108 times. The devotee then applies the sacred ash to his/her forehead and lights a lamp before the Lord. 

Pradosham Fast Observance

Devotees not only pray to Lord on this day but also observes fast to honor Shiva. Strict observers worship Shiva throughout the day and night. They chant Mantras and recite His songs and prayers. Such observers do not consume any eatable and refrain from having water too. On the other hand are partial observers who follow the same rituals but break their fast in the evening after the evening prayers. 

Puja Materials You Need

Milk: gives long and healthy life

Curd: blesses the childless couple with child

Lemon: to overcome the fear of death

Ghee: grants Moksha (salvation)

Rice: helps to overcome the financial sufferings

Cooked Rice or Annam: grants a royal life

Coconut: provides luxuries and comforts of life

Sandal: blesses the observer with the beauty like Maa Lakshmi 

Panchamrutham: bestows the devotee with health and wealth

Honey: is used for a melodious voice

Sugar: helps to overcome anger

Sugar cane juice: bestows with good health

Invoke Lord Shiva’s blessings and expel out all the negative karmas with Pradosh Vrat. Pradosham falling every month, provides the best platform to overcome the evil deeds and achieve Moksha.

Free Mobile Kundli

Free Horoscope Matching

Lohri 2014: Celebrating Fertility With Bonfire

In Punjab, the festival of Lohri will be observed on January 13, 2014. Lohri is considered to be the most important and most awaited day. People who belong to Punjabi community are mostly robust, fun-loving and enthusiastic by nature. The festival of Lohri symbolizes their enthusiasm for festive celebrations.

The festival of Lohri will be observed on January 13, 2014. With the first light of the New Year, people in India are all set to get started with the journey full of celebrations and festivals. The distinctive and perfectly assorted Indian culture is attracting the inhabitants to get closer to some of the very thrilling and enjoyable festivities. The commencement of these celebrations is to be initiated by the festival of Lohri. It is a festival related to harvesting and is celebrated annually in January. 

Legends And Traditions 

On the day of Lohri, little children demand for Lohri from their elders in the form of money and eatables such as Sesame seeds (Til), Gajak, Jaggery, Rewari and Peanuts, to name a few. The children also sing a festive song in praise of Dulla Bhatti. He is considered as the Punjabi Avatar of Robin Hood. He robbed the riches to assist the poor people. 

Performing Bonfire On Lohri

On the day of Lohri, as the sun sets in the evening, huge bonfires are lit in the harvested fields. A few people also perform this in the front yard of the house. At the time of Lohri celebration, a lot of people gather up at one place. They circle around the rising flames of fire and at this time, they throw edibles like puffed rice, popcorns, etc. While doing so, they say “Adar Aye Dilethar jaye”, by this they mean to pray that “may honor come and may poverty peter out”. 

At the time of celebrating the festival of Lohri, they also sing folk songs. Lohri is a festival in which people offer prayers to Agni (fire) to let their land get blessed with fertility and abundance. After they are done with the rounds around the bonfire (Parikrama), gift exchange ritual with relatives and friends begin. Once the Pooja and other related rituals are done, Prasad (holy food offering) is distributed to all the people present in the celebration. The most important part of this celebration is the Lohri Prasad, which includes sweets like Gajak and Rewri together with some other munchies such as peanuts, popcorns and jaggery. After that, all the guests are served with some traditional edibles like cooked mustard herbs with multi-millet chapattis for dinner.

The Traditional Performance

After getting done with all the related rituals, Bhangra, which is the traditional dance of Punjab, is performed by men. This celebration goes on till late night on the day of Lohri. These traditional touches add up more vigor and excitement to the festive mood.

Maghi: The Day Following Lohri

The day of Maghi falls on the next day of Lohri. This day signifies the commencement of Magh month. In accordance with the beliefs of Hindu religion, Maghi is considered to be the most auspicious day for taking a dip into the holy river together with doing some charity. Sweets such as Kheer (sweet rice porridge dessert) are prepared by adding sugar cane juice, rice and milk as Prasad for the day.

Showing Gratitude Toward The Harvest God 

The festival of Lohri comes up with a chance for the people to put aside all their tensions and worries. On this day, people get an opportunity to keep away from their hectic work schedules and to enjoy this festive day to the fullest. On this day, people offer prayers to the harvest God so their land could get the blessings to be amazingly fertile.

Hope you will have a great time this Lohri 2014. Stay tuned to AstroSage for more such interesting stuff.

Happy Lohri 2014!

Free Mobile Kundli

Free Horoscope Matching

Weekly Sensex - Nifty Predictions (13/01/2014 – 17/01/2014)

Weekly Planetary Position 

During the week, Moon will be transiting in Taurus, Gemini & Cancer. Sun & Venus in Sagittarius.   Lord Saturn & Rahu in Libra. Mercury in Capricorn. Mars in Virgo.  Jupiter in Gemini, Ketu in Aries.  Pluto in Sagittarius. Neptune in Aquarius & Uranus in Pisces. Sun will shift to Capricorn on 14th January 2014.

BE CAUTIOUS: Astrological position about market is not comfortable in coming days. There is going to be heavy deception & volatility & it is sell on every rise.

Following Sectors Are Getting Astrological Support

TECHNOLOGY sector will continue receiving strong astrological support. Buy HCL Technology, TCS,  Tech Mahindra, Hexaware,  e clarx, Polaris, Mastek, KPIT, CMC, Sonata Softwear & Mind Tree  etc on every decline. This sector was predicted last week also & during the all most all stocks of this sector i.e. Infosys, TCS, Hexawear, HCL Technology, Mind Tree, Polaris, KPIT, Hinduja Global & Ramcosys etc went up by 4-16% from weekly low.

PHARMA sector will also continue receiving astrological support. Buy Lupin, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy, Divis Lab, Glenmark Pharma Biocon, Auro Pharma, & Wockhardt  etc on every dip. This sector was also predicted last week also & during the week – Cipla, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy, Coral Lab & Cadila Healthcare etc went up by 5 – 15% from weekly low.

MINING & DRILLING sectors will also be getting astrological support. Buy Sesa Sterlite, Aban Offshore, HOEC, GMDC & NMDC etc on dips.

LEATHER & LIQUOR sectors will continue receiving very strong astrological support. These sectors were predicted last week also & during the week – Super House, Mirza Tanneries shot up by 16 – 34% in Leather sector & Mcdowel & United Brewery by 5.5-6.5% in Liquor space.

Always be very cautious, when some main planets i.e. Rahu, Ketu, Jupiter & Lord Saturn are changing their houses. It may be that certain sectors which were continuously getting support for long time may stop receiving support due to change in position by above planets & stocks of those sectors starts coming down, resulting in losses. This is common reason, why most people loss money.

One should trade only in the stocks of that sectors which are getting very strong astrologically support.

Sectors which get very strong ASTROLOGICAL support are not normally affected by downfall in the market.

By Satish Gupta

(http://astrostocktips.in)

• Good Or Bad Days For Trading?

Disclaimer: The predictions made herein are for information purposes and are not recommendations to any person to buy or sell any securities. We only use astrological analysis, so target is not based on any technical or fundamental analysis, but only on the experience of an astrologer. Its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. The information provided herein is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities of any kind. The Astrologer and the company do not accept any liability for the use of this column. Readers of this column who buy or sell securities based on the information in this column are solely responsible for their actions. And, author won't be liable or responsible for any legal or financial losses made by anyone.

Free Mobile Kundli

Free Horoscope Matching

Sensex - Nifty Astrology Predictions (13.01.2014)

Planets position on 13th January 2014 at 09:15am at Mumbai

• Lagna in Aquarius
• Mercury in Capricorn
• Saturn & Rahu in Libra
• Moon in Taurus
• Ketu in Aries
• Jupiter in Gemini
• Mars in Virgo
• Venus & Sun in Sagittarius

Planetary Aspects

Sun conjoins Venus and sextiles Saturn. Mars trines Moon & squares Jupiter. Saturn trines Jupiter. Venus Squares Mars. Jupiter Opposite Sun and Venus.

Panchang

Tithi: Shukla Trayodasi

Nakshatra: Mrigasira

Yoga: Brahma

Karana: Kaulava

Flat to mild bearish trend will be observed. Action will be seen in healthcare, hospitals, pharma, power and automobile sector.

Persons having Aries and Sagittarius Moon signs/ Lagna (ascendant) will be financially affected today. They should refrain from money matters today. 

We suggest the readers not to indulge in any kind of speculation like day trading, but invest astrologically as per their individual horoscopes for long term to gain profits.

Disclaimer: - The predictions made herein are for information purposes and are not recommendations to any person to buy or sell any securities. We only use astrological analysis, so target are not based on any technical or fundamental analysis but only on the experience of an astrologer. Its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. The information provided herein is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell securities of any kind. The Astrologer and the company do not accept any liability for the use of this column. Readers of this column who buy or sell securities based on the information in this column are solely responsible for their actions. And author won't be liable or responsible for any legal or financial losses made by anyone.

By Rajeev K Khattar

• Good Or Bad Days For Trading?

Free Mobile Kundli

Free Horoscope Matching

AstroSage 2 Minute Astrology Tutorial: Part 6

Astrologer Punit Pandey has come up with 6th part of ‘2 Minutes Astrology Tutorial’ series. In the previous part, we learned about the Zodiac Signs. Today, we will discuss about Birth-Chart. ‘Learn Astrology in 2 Minutes Tutorial’ is available FREE, read further to know more.

Birth-Chart

(If you missed the Part-5 of ‘2 Minutes Astrology Tutorial’, click here: Learn Astrology In 2 Minutes - Part-5)

Hi, welcome to 2 min astrology course. We’ve already discussed about planets and zodiac signs. Now, let’s discuss about birth-chart. Check out the image of birth-chart on blackboard.

Forget the numbers written in birth-chart for a while. The colored square on the top is called Ascendant. Ascendant is also called the first house. It’s the starting point where we begin the counting of houses. To understand it more clearly, check out the houses in image – this is first house, this is second, this is third, and this one is twelfth house. Irrespective of number written in it, the location of a house is fixed in a birth-chart. In this birth-chart, Venus and Rahu are posited in fifth house. Moon and Mars are posited in sixth house. Saturn, Sun and Mercury are posited in seventh; and Jupiter is in eleventh house along with Ketu.

These numbers indicate the zodiac signs and with the sign we can find out the lord of the house. In this birth-chart, Ascendant has 11th sign i.e. Aquarius. In other words, the native has Aquarius ascendant. You already know that 11th sign is Aquarius, don’t you?

We also know that Aquarius is owned by Saturn. So in our example chart, ascendant or first house is owned by Saturn. Similarly, second house is owned by Jupiter as ‘12’ is written in it and we know that 12th sign i.e. Pisces is owned by Jupiter.

Owners of zodiac signs are fixed. However, owners of houses differ with birth-charts.

I hope this information will be helpful for you.

Namaste!

By Astrologer Punit Pandey

Find all the notes of upcoming parts here:

• Learn Astrology With Astrologer Punit Pandey

You may also like to read:

• How To Learn Astrology With AstroSage?
• Learn Astrology Video Series In Hindi

Free Mobile Kundli

Free Horoscope Matching