Makar Sankranti and Vastu: Welcoming the Sun

Makar Sankranti is the festival that marks the Sun's move into Capricorn, and it is linked with Vastu because both give the Sun a central place. मकर (Makara) is the zodiac sign Capricorn, and संक्रांति (Sankranti) means the Sun's crossing from one sign into the next.

The day is traditionally taken as the start of उत्तरायण (Uttarayan, the Sun's northward journey), when the days slowly grow longer. Vastu is not a festival tradition, but it shares the same respect for sunlight, and that is the bridge between the two.

Vastu gives importance to the East because the Sun rises there, and to the North because it is traditionally linked with prosperity and steady, cool light. The East is associated with सूर्य (Surya, the Sun) and Indra, and the North with Kubera.

This is why Vastu prefers more openings, windows and free space on the East and North sides of a home, and heavier walls and storage on the South and West. Morning sunlight is gentle, and a room that receives it feels fresh and awake.

You can welcome the Sun by opening the East windows soon after sunrise and letting light and air fill the home. It is a simple act, costs nothing and suits any flat.

Clean the East side and the North-East of the home before the festival, since these are the zones that receive the morning light. The North-East, called ईशान्य (Ishanya), is the zone of the Water element and of prayer.

Wash the East-facing windows and grills so that sunlight comes in clear. Remove old newspapers, cartons and unused items from the North-East corner. Wipe the pooja shelf and change the water in any pot or vase kept there. Not sure which side of your flat faces East? The free direction finder will tell you.

Til-gul is a sweet of sesame seeds and jaggery that people in Maharashtra exchange on Sankranti as a sign of warmth and goodwill. It is given with the well-known greeting तिळगुळ घ्या, गोड गोड बोला (tilgul ghya, god god bola), which means 'take this til-gul and speak sweetly'.

Sesame and jaggery are warming winter foods, but the message is about relationships: let go of old quarrels and begin again kindly. A peaceful home depends on the people in it as much as on its directions, so this is a festival habit worth keeping all year.

Giving to others is part of Sankranti because a harvest festival is a time to share what one has received. This giving is called दान (daan, charity), and families traditionally give food grains, sesame, jaggery, warm clothes or blankets.

You can give in any honest way that suits you: a meal for the building's staff, warm clothing for someone who sleeps outdoors, or grains to a local kitchen.

Fly kites safely by using only a terrace with a full-height parapet wall, keeping children supervised at all times and using plain cotton thread. Safety comes before celebration, especially on tall Mumbai buildings.

Consult a Vastu expert when the East and North of your home are closed, dark or taken up by a toilet or heavy storage, and you are not sure how to balance it. A festival tidy-up helps, but some layouts need a closer look.

Dr. Kimaya Parikh-Ambekar of VastuKimaya, based in Andheri East, Mumbai, offers on-site and distant consultations for homes and flats, with non-structural remedies explained in a written report. You can book an appointment at a time that suits you.