Related Post: The Meaning of Makar Sankranti
Swami Nikhilanand Ji, a disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj starting the Surya Namaskar session
Swami Nikhilanand Ji participating in the kite flying festivities.
This year, Hindus of Greater Houston celebrated Makar Shankranti day most joyously. Swami Nikhilanand Ji, a disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj gave a speech on "the meaning of Makar Shankranti".
Over 4,000 men, women and children joined in festivities with kite-flying, yogic exercises - Surya Namaskar yagna - and music in Houston. It was a picnic with a difference where people from various parts of greater Houston area gathered to mark the festival that also signifies the Sun's northward journey - Uttarayana.
The festival organized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Gujarati Samaj of Greater Houston and Hindus of Greater Houston has become a favorite fun day for the last two decades. This year because of the wet outfield, games like cricket and kabaddi were canceled but that did not diminish the enthusiasm of the gathering. The Day extended for almost 8 hours with the peak around 2 pm when music, food and kite flying were the big attraction. Gujarati Samaj served Khichari and butter milk free, like every year, said Prakash Shah, the President of Gujarati Samaj.
From the morning hours till well past noon hundreds of people from ages 6 to 60 participated in the Yogic exercise, Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) that helps both the body and the mind. Lakshminarayan, one of the organizers, said Surya Namaskar has become very popular and every day some 10,000 people do it in parks, playgrounds and at their homes. The goal is to reach 100,000 people this year.
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