December 21 brings the longest, darkest night, but it also marks the shift to the approaching festive season when it is brighter, sunnier and a time for renewal and rejuvenation. The UN marks it as World Meditation Day, says SHILPY AHUJA. Celebrate it thus, as the death and rebirth of the sun, hope after darkness and the promise of returning warmth and fertility
Humans have a deep connection to the rhythm of nature. Our bodies, minds, and even moods are in sync with the cycles of nature. The sun, moon, and seasonal cycles affect our digestion, moods, and overall health. So when the magnificent king of the skies – the sun – is seen at the lowest point in the sky every year on December 21, it has a cascading effect on the human mind-body systems.
Scientifically, this is the shortest day of the year, where the Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees and the hemisphere experiencing winter is farthest from the sun. On this day, the winter sky receives a few hours of bleak sunlight, followed by a cold and longest night of the year. Due to fewer hours of sunlight available in this season, many people suffer from winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This day of winter solstice also marks the symbolic death of the sun.
Embracing seasonal cycles, the sun peaks in brilliance in the summer, then slowly declines through autumn until only a faint hue of its old glory remains. As the last light of the day dwindles, creation is engulfed in the deepest, longest night. This is a sombre moment.
Hidden deep inside this long, desolate night, when everything looks motionless, there is still some movement. The cycle of nature moves in a loop and there is transformation occurring. Even at the lowest point in the horizon, the sun begins its ascension into the northern sky. There is a reversal now, and from this point onwards, the days become longer. What seemed to have ebbed, now transforms into a moment of pure jubilation.
Ancient cultures celebrate this moment as the spiritual triumph of light over darkness.
This cosmic event of the winter solstice also metaphorically symbolises the rebirth of the sun.
Earlier, when the sun looked at its weakest in the skies, it had resulted in smaller days with reduced daylight hours. These long periods of darkness, gave us time to find our inner calm. Its suggestion to our bodies was to slow down, thereby reducing of stress and lessening our anxiety levels.
Longer hours of darkness naturally create favourable conditions for the pineal gland, also called ‘the third eye’, to produce melatonin. Melatonin, a neurohormone, helps maintain the circadian rhythm in the body and keeps the body well rested.
When we are well-rested, we breathe properly, thereby achieving good results in meditation.
Meditation, in turn helps us develop our intuition and the clarity of thoughts it brings, slowly turns into heightened levels of awareness. This thought evolution signifies a new beginning, like a symbolic rebirth.
The UN General Assembly has declared December 21 as World Meditation Day for better mental health and inner peace.
The symbolic rebirth of the sun ushers renewed hope for the future and is a cause for celebration. Astronomically, this time signals the end of the harsh winter and commencement of a joyful spring season. Longer daylight means more warmth and augurs good tidings for the growth of crops.
On 14 January each year, Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival, is celebrated, signifying the sun’s transition into Makar Rashi. In this deeply auspicious celestial period, prayers of gratitude are offered and devotees pay obeisance to the magnificent sun. There are celebrations across various regions in the entire country, celebrations that brings families and communities together that provide a sense of cultural belonging and holistic well-being.
In Tamil Nadu, Pongal is celebrated for four days. There is prayer to the sun god for a bountiful harvest. Freshly harvested rice and sugarcane are used in rituals. Colourful rangolis are made. In Punjab, Lohri is celebrated on January 13. Bonfires are lit and sweets of til and gur are made. Follk songs are sung with family and neighbours.
In Assam, Magh Bihu is celebrated where rice cakes are made as food. There are prayers for the god of fire and prayers for our ancestors. Bonfires are made and Bihu dances performed.
In Gujarat, Uttarayan is celebrated by offering prayers to the Sun God. Foods with til and jaggery are made here as well. The sky is full of colourful kites and kite-flying competitions are organised.
Each region has its own vibrant and unique way of celebrating Makar Sankranti.
The sun and Makar Sankranti also inspired architects and builders of ancient times to build magnificent temples and structures to commemorate the ascension of the sun. The marvellous Gavi Gangadheshwara temple in Bengaluru is a perfect example of this. This cave temple is carved out of a monolithic rock and its architecture and astronomical calculations by its designers are so precise that even today, on the day of Makar Sankranti, the sun’s slanting rays reach deep inside this dark cave to fall on the Shiva lingam, thereby illuminating it in the dark cave. This incredible and spectacular sight is almost magical.
Significant monuments were made in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa to honour the sun and mark the movement of the sun in the sky to show that nature follows a cyclical pattern.
There is rise and then there are times of decline and decay. The Sun’s luminosity in the sky fades before it regains its glory. The darkest night gives rise to the brightest day. This teaches us about new beginnings and renewal. Dark times are periods to reflect and transform, to seek hope and find positivity. As the sun emerges from darkness to claim its glory in the sky, it is an inspiration to many. This celestial phenomenon is the time to gather oneself and focus. It is the time to emerge and shine again with brilliance.
Shilpy Ahuja is a poet, writer and painter. She considers spirituality and family as the most important dimensions of her life. Shilpy is a bachelor of science from Delhi University, and pursued business studies. She is self-employed.
Featured image is AI-generated
