The Sanskrit term “Shankramana” means “to begin to move”. The day on which the sun begins to move northwards (Uttarayana) is called Makara Shankranti मकर संक्रान्ति. The great Bhishma, the grandfather of the Pandavas, was fatally wounded during the war of the Mahabharata, waited on his deathbed of nails for the onset of this season before finally departing from the earth-plane. Let us on this great day pay our homage to him and strive to become men of firm resolve ourselves!