Bashant Panchami festival (Sultanpur Shree Gorakhnath Mahotsav Fair)

In India's glorious religious and cultural tradition, fasts, festivals, festivals have been of special importance since ancient times. That is why, whether it is Rakshabandhan, the festival of sage tarpan associated with the respect of the eternal tradition of knowledge, whether it is Vijayadashami, the festival of Jayant pride, the messenger of the sure victory of righteousness over untruth or unrighteousness, Whether it is Deepawali, the luminous festival of journey from Tamas to light, whether it is Holi, a festival of social equanimity and liberation, colorful with the zeal and wave of a free mind. In our national and ethnic life, faith, belief and gaiety have dominated not only disbelief, grief and panic. Bashant Panchami also has a special importance and place in our long diverse tradition of fasts and festivals. Alluding to a great truth of this material world, the Rigvedic sages say that the sun is the soul of this visible and movable world. According to astrologers, the apparent sky path of the Sun is called Kantivrut which is divided into 12 equal parts in the form of 12 zodiac signs like Aries, Taurus, Gemini etc. The Sun, the soul of the world, keeps on transiting through these 12 signs respectively throughout the year. Bashant Panchami is the name of the entry of the Sun from one authorized sign to another. Thus, respectively, when the Sun enters Capricorn from Sagittarius, then the festival of Bashant Panchami comes. Therefore, the festival of Bashant Panchami is basically a great festival of worship of the world's father Sun. There are two ayans in a year, Uttarayan and Dakshinayana. From the time when Sun's Bashant Panchami occurs in Capricorn, the Sun remains Uttarayan for 6 months till Gemini. This period is considered auspicious and auspicious for many types of religious rites and rituals. From the day the sun sets, the nights become shorter and the days longer.

In the month of Magha, when the Sun enters Capricorn, then bathing and charity have a special significance in this virtuous period. This festival is celebrated with great joy and gaiety in different parts of the country with different names and rituals. In Hindi speaking areas, where it is often called Gorakhnath Mahotsav i.e. Bashant Panchami related to the donation of rice and pulse mixture and food, whereas in Maharashtra, sesame and jaggery are specially used on this occasion. On the other hand, in Bengal it is called Tilwa Panchami, while in South India the three-day long festival on this occasion is famous as Pongal.

According to religious scriptures, on the day of Sankranti, with determination, by laying red cloth on the altar or post, make an octagon of Akshats and by installing an idol of the golden Sun God in it, worship them with Panchopchar method. On this day Ganga bath, donation of pulses, rice and black sesame is said to be very virtuous. In the scriptures, the law of special donation of wood and clothes is also described in Makar Sankranti. Perhaps due to the extreme cold, its donation is considered important so that even the poor can get the necessary wood and clothes to avoid the cold. Bathing in Samudra, Gangasagar, Kashi and Teerthraj Prayag has special significance on the day of Sankranti period. But those who cannot go to these pilgrimages for any reason, remembering the seven holy rivers like Ganga etc., have made a law to take a duly bath in any river, river or lake, due to which the devotee gets the fruit of the pilgrimage and the sun-lok.