Makar Sankranti

When the wind is high don 't moan and groan with it, just take out
your kite and fly it.
That 's what I said to myself this morning when my helper who does a little bit of house work did not show up. She has gone to the village to see her future son-in-law who had met with an accident.
Crowds of pilgrims poured into the city for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti and she could not get transport back because of the rush.
So I also took the morning off and had a leisurely breakfast out on the porch in the warm sun - and really enjoyed doing things differently which is my goal for 2011.

These are pictures of the International Kite Festival in Gujarat which takes place today.

January 14th is celebrated all over India as Makar Sankranti a Hindu festival heralding the harvest season. People take take baths in holy rivers and ponds in the quest to cleanse themselves from sin and gain salvation.

In my city Magh Mela a month long Hindu religious fair started today on the banks of the river Ganga at Sangam where 3 rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati have their confluence. Read more about it in THIS NEWS STORY

I took these photos from the web to show you what the bathing looks like.

This is man in search of freedom from sin and a guilty conscience.

Can the water of a river worshipped as Mother Ganga cleanse a soul from sin?

As persons we inherited a sinful condition from the fall of man.

Genesis 3

a. To be sinful means you accept and believe error Psalm 19 ;12

b. To be sinful means you practice error. Romans 3:9-18,23

c. To be sinful means you inherited a nature that wants to sin Romans 5 ;12-21

Jesus Christ came into the world to save mankind from the curse of sin. He gave his life for us on the cross - a sacrifice for sin - the only one acceptable to God. He shed he innocent blood for us to wash away our sin.

In this video sin has been personified and given a voice. Watch it carefully. CLICK HERE TO WATCH I AM SIN