Makar Sankranti, celebrated on January 14, 2025, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals dedicated to Bhagwan Surya (the Sun God). This harvest festival marks the Sun’s transition from the zodiac sign Sagittarius (Dhanu Rashi) to Capricorn (Makara Rashi), also known as the Uttarayana period. This shift signifies the arrival of longer days and the end of the harsh winter months. While Makar Sankranti holds immense cultural and religious significance across Bharat, the festival is celebrated in many ways, with distinct names, rituals, and festivities in each region. Let’s take a deep dive into the rich variety of celebrations across the country, each one brimming with its charm and traditions.
While the core belief of Makar Sankranti remains the same—honouring the Sun God and celebrating the harvest season—each region of Bharat gives it a unique twist. From kite flying in Gujarat to grand feasts in Assam and spiritual rituals in Maharashtra to family gatherings in Punjab, the festival weaves a beautiful tapestry of customs representing Bharat’s diversity.
Pongal – The Grand Harvest Festival of Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is known as Pongal. This four-day festival is celebrated with immense fervour, especially in rural areas. The first day, Bhogi Pongal involves burning old items to symbolise the cleansing of old habits, followed by cutting newly harvested crops. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to worshipping Bhagwan Surya. A special dish called Pongal, made from rice, milk, and jaggery, is prepared and offered to the Sun God. On the third day, Maatu Pongal honours cattle, which are washed, decorated, and worshipped. The fourth and final day, Kannum Pongal, is marked by preparing special rice dishes and offering them to crows, symbolising respect for ancestors.
Uttarayan – The Kite-Flying Extravaganza of Gujarat
In Gujarat, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Uttarayan, one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year. The sky is filled with colourful kites as the people of Gujarat celebrate the onset of the Sun’s northward journey. Uttarayan is a two-day celebration, featuring kite flying, dancing, and delicious feasts. People indulge in sweets like undhiyu, a vegetable medley, jalebi, and chikki. The excitement is palpable as families and friends compete in kite-flying contests, often accompanied by songs and music.
Magh Bihu – The Harvest Festival in Assam
In Assam, Makar Sankranti is observed as Magh Bihu. It marks the arrival of the harvest season and is celebrated with bonfires, traditional games, and an array of local sweets. A special dish called Shunga Pitha (a rice cake) and Til Pitha and Laskara are made during the festivities. Magh Bihu is a celebration of the harvest and the changing seasons, with much emphasis placed on family gatherings, sharing meals, and prayers for prosperity.
Lohri – The Celebration of Winter’s End in Punjab
In Punjab and Haryana, the festival is celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti as Lohri. This festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of the harvest season. A large bonfire is lit, around which families gather to sing traditional songs, dance, and offer gajak, rewri, and puffed rice. Lohri also has a cultural significance tied to the legendary Punjabi hero, Dhulla Bhatti, who is celebrated for rescuing young girls from abduction. All enjoy traditional foods like sarson da saag (mustard greens) and makki di roti (cornmeal flatbread).
Sankranti or Maghi in Punjab and Haryana
While Lohri is celebrated in Punjab a day before Makar Sankranti, the festival is also known as Maghi in Haryana. On this day, devotees gather at rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, or the sacred Sangam for a holy dip. They then prepare Khichdi, a dish made from newly harvested rice and lentils, and offer it to the deities. Community fairs, religious processions, and the preparation of special foods also mark Maghi Mela in Punjab and Haryana.
Sakarat – The Joyous Festival of Rajasthan
Rajasthan, like Gujarat, celebrates Makar Sankranti with a distinct charm, calling it Sakarat or Sankrant. This celebration is filled with colours, music, and traditional dances. The most popular activity during Sakarat is kite flying. Cities like Jaipur and Pushkar see massive kite-flying events, with people competing to cut the kites of their rivals. Traditional sweets such as tilgul (sesame and jaggery sweets) are consumed as a gesture of goodwill and to maintain warmth during the chilly winter.
Khichdi Parv – The Celebration in Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is known as Khichdi Parv. The festival is marked by the preparation of Khichdi, a comforting dish made of rice and lentils, symbolising the harvest. Devotees take a holy dip at the Sangam (the Ganga and Yamuna confluence), believing it washes away sins. The Khichdi Mela is a major attraction in Gorakhpur, drawing devotees from across the state and neighbouring regions.
Tilla Sakraat – Bihar’s Winter Feast
In Bihar, Makar Sankranti is observed as Tilla Sakraat or Dahi Chura. It is a time for families to come together and prepare a dish made of dahi (yoghurt) and chura (flattened rice). Black sesame seeds are also consumed for their health benefits during the cold months. Rituals like bathing in the Ganga River and offering prayers to ancestors are central to the day’s observances.
Shishur Saenkraat – Makar Sankranti in Kashmir
In Kashmir, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Shishur Saenkraat and holds deep cultural significance. People in Kashmir prepare tilgul, sweets made from sesame seeds and jaggery. The day begins with a ritual bath and ends with prayers for a prosperous harvest. Kashmiri Pandits also practice charity and perform rituals to remember the departed souls, offering rice and other essentials as donations.
Regardless of the name it goes by, Makar Sankranti represents a time of new beginnings. The festival is primarily a harvest celebration, marking the end of the cold winter and the arrival of longer, warmer days. In many regions, people take holy dips in sacred rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Godavari, believing it will cleanse their souls and bring blessings for the year ahead.
Additionally, acts of charity and donations are common across all regions. People offer food, clothes, and other items to the poor and less fortunate, embodying the spirit of generosity and community central to the festival.
