Overview
Meaning of Mithuna Sankranti
The word Mithuna Sankranti is the addition of two words- ‘Mithuna’ and ‘Sankranti’. Mithuna, also known as Gemini, is an astrological Zodiac Sign which is denoted by the Twins. Sankranti specifies the journey of the Sun from one to another Rashi or Zodiac sign.
The day of Mithuna Sankranti marks the transition movement of Sun from Vrishabha Rashi to Mithuna Rashi, that is, from Tauras to Gemini zodiac.
Names of Mithuna Sankranti
Mithuna Sankranti is famous as various names in different regions of India. In Eastern India, it is known as Asherah (Also spelled as Asharh). In Southern India, people celebrate Mithuna Sankranti as Aani. It is known as Mithunam Onth in Kerala. Odisha observes this as the festival of Raja Parba.
Day and Date of Mithuna Sankranti
According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, it comes in ‘Ashadha’, the fourth month of the ‘Panchang’ Hindi calendar.
Auspicious Muhurat Time of Mithuna Sankranti
Mithuna Sankranti is one of the Shadshitimukhi Sankranti(S); others are Meena Sankranti, Kanya Sankranti, and Dhanu Sankranti. Mithuna Sankranti related auspicious Muhurat for Daan-Punya falls 16 sixteen Ghati(s) after the Mithuna Sankraman moment.
As per the above, the Muhurat for Daan-Punya-related righteous activities is the time window of Sankranti to 16 Ghati after Sankranti.
(Time of Sankraman)
(Duration of Muhurat: 01 Hour 15 Mins)
(Duration of Muhurat: 01 Hour 15 Mins)
God of the Festival
Other than Lord Surya who is also known as the Sun God, Goddess Earth and Lord Vishnu are also revered on the occasion of Mithuna Sankranti.
Rituals
Worship of Grinding Stone Symbolizing the Mother Earth
The believers in Odisha wear traditional dresses and perform special puja (worship) dedicating to the grinding stone which depicts the mother Earth.
The stone is cleaned, washed, and decorated with flowers, garland, and vermillion.
Fasting on Mithuna Sankranti
The worshippers keep fast on Mithuna Sankranti day and offer prayers to their Sun God to please him.
Singing with Swings
The most exciting ritual of Sankranti and Raja Praba is preparing the swings for the girls and ladies. The swings are tied on the banyan tree’s bark which is enjoyed by the Indian females with loads of smiles and singing.
These swings are known with different names as per their types. Three of them are Dandi Doli, Chakri Doli, and Ram Doli.
Donation Giving Activities
One of the most common rituals of Sankranti(s) is giving the donation of food and money to needy people. Other than them, there are also some specific things that are donated on the specific type of Sankranti such as grain, cow, land, etc.
The devotees offer the donation of clothes on the occasion of Mithuna Sankranti. They perform such deeds during the specified Shubha Muhurat (auspicious time).
People also pay homage to their ancestors on Sankranti day. Many visit temples and perform this ritual on the river bank.
Significance of Mithuna Sankranti
Mithuna Sankranti marks the arrival of the third month of the Hindu Solar calendar which falls in July.
For this Sankranti, the activities of donating or gifting the clothes are considered to be greatly auspicious.
In the Indian state Orissa, Mithuna Sankranti is observed as Raja Sankranti, a swing festival that is celebrated as a four-day-long event of significance.
Mythologies
The four days long festival of Mithuna Sankranti brings rains, joys, and happiness. Among all the other seasons, most people love Monsoon the most. And thus the festival is also enjoyed and marked with great enthusiasm and zeal.
Where unmarried girls embellish themselves with beautiful Indian attires and ornaments, the married women also enjoy the Sankranti festival, playing indoor games and taking a break from all their household jobs.
While performing the rituals of Mithuna Sankranti puja, the decoration of the stone depicting Mother Earth symbolizes the preparation of the land for the rainfall. In the same way, young girls also adorn themselves, preparing them for marriage.
People worship keeping fast dedicating to the Lord Surya for seeking the blessings of happy and peaceful life in the further coming days.
Celebrations
People enjoy singing their folk songs that are known as the Raja Gita. The singing is enjoyed with the folk dancing as well. Both the man and woman celebrators walk barefoot on their motherland and thus welcome the rain with honor and zest.
The priests and local people decorate the temples of Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya. The Jagannath temple of Odisha is specially decorated and visited by the devotees. They worship their Lord and his wife Goddess Earth who is known as Bhudevi.
Traditional Dish of Mithuna Sankranti
The special dish of the Mithuna Sankranti and Raja Praba day is Poda-Pitha that is made of rice powder, jaggery, butter, coconut, molasses, and camphor. However, people avoid eating rice grains on the day of Mithuna Sankramanam.
