The crisp January air whistled through the narrow lanes of Devbhoomi, carrying with it the sweet aroma of til-gur ladoos and the excited shouts of children flying kites. Fourteen-year-old Tarkik sat cross-legged on his grandmother’s traditional wooden chowki, watching her arrange various items on a brass thali with methodical precision. His normally racing mind was unusually still, captivated by her practiced movements.
“Daadi,” Tarkik began, adjusting his thick-rimmed glasses, “why do we celebrate Makar Sankranti on the same date every year? All our other festivals keep changing dates.”
Daadi smiled, her wrinkled face lighting up with the joy of sharing knowledge. She had been waiting for this moment – when her curious grandson would begin asking questions about their traditions. As a retired astronomy professor, she delighted in explaining the scientific basis behind their cultural practices.
“Ah, beta,” she replied, her eyes twinkling, “that’s because Makar Sankranti is special. Unlike our other festivals that follow the lunar calendar, this one follows the solar calendar.” She paused her arrangement of the thali and looked up at the clear winter sky visible through the window. “Do you know what happens in the sky on this day?”
Tarkik shook his head, his curiosity piqued. He had always excelled in science at school, but this was something new.
“Today, the Sun begins its northward journey in the sky, entering the zodiac sign of Capricorn, or Makar Rashi. This astronomical event is so precise that it happens on January 14th or 15th every year.” She picked up a small brass compass from her puja shelf and placed it before Tarkik. “This journey is called Uttarayan – the sun’s six-month journey northward.”
“But Daadi,” Tarkik furrowed his brow, “in school we learned that the Earth revolves around the sun. So is this northward journey of the sun just how it appears from Earth?”
“Very good question!” Daadi beamed with pride. “You know, the sun actually does move – it rotates on its axis and travels through space, carrying our whole solar system with it as we all orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy. But you’re right about the northward journey we see during Uttarayan – that apparent motion comes from Earth’s tilted axis and our planet’s position in its orbit around the sun. This precise astronomical alignment is why Makar Sankranti is one of the few Indian festivals that falls on a fixed date in the English calendar.”
A strong gust of wind sent a chorus of kites dancing across the sky outside their window. Tarkik watched them for a moment before asking, “Is that why everyone flies kites today?”
