What is so special about Margazhi?

The key to the timing of many rituals and festivals and other important social events, is the weather and harvest! As the customs and traditions evolved, man had to take into the weather conditions as one among the most vital factors. The cold weather in 'Markazhi' and limited number of day hours, called for special efforts to shake off lethargy, a natural tendency (hibernation!), and some reasons were created for early rising and early morning vigour of activities on the social plane! Religiion and spirituality being the easiest routes to motivation, the 'Bhakti' marga showed the way to effective measures to keep man active in healthy social interactions! Therefore, as adjuncts, the concepts of gods' last few sleeping hours before the gods got up (in 'Uttarayana', after the 'dakshinayana', at the end of 'Markazhi'!) from sleep to commence their day (six months of 'uttarayana'!), and the ideal days for religious worship, were evolved and refined in all regions where winter peaked around those days, with similar thoughts and allied traditions evolving in other comparable religious practices! Cold weather is the most 'creative' weather for production of all kinds, stamina for work being maximum, once the inertia and initial lethargy are successfully tackled, thus Lord Krishna also acknowledged the prime place of that month of winter, as top among the months! That generally sums up the lovely month of music and pilgrimage! (The Madras season of music! The Ayyappa's pilgrimage season in the lofty hills of SabariMalai!)