14/01/2026
Makar Sankranti is a significant Hindu solar festival celebrated across India, marking the Sun's transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara) and the beginning of its northward journey (Uttarayan). This event signifies the end of winter, the arrival of warmer days, and the start of the harvest season.
KEY ASPECTS
Date: Unlike most Hindu festivals that follow the lunar calendar, Makar Sankranti typically falls on the same date every year: January 14th or 15th.
Significance: It is a day dedicated to worshipping the Sun God, Surya, with observers often taking holy baths in rivers and offering prayers for prosperity and a bountiful harvest.
Regional Diversity: The festival is celebrated with different names and unique traditions in various states, highlighting India's unity in diversity:
Gujarat calls it Uttarayan and celebrates with widespread kite flying, including the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad.
Tamil Nadu celebrates it as a four-day festival called Pongal, a major harvest festival.
Punjab and Haryana observe it as Lohri, featuring bonfires and traditional dances.
In Maharashtra, it's known as Til Sankranti, where people exchange sweets made of sesame (til) and jaggery (tilgul).
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar often call it the Khichdi festival, emphasizing donation and community feasts.
In Assam, it is celebrated as Magh Bihu, also marking the end of the harvest season with community feasts.
Common Practices
Across these diverse celebrations, common elements often include:
Feasting on seasonal specialties, especially dishes made with sesame seeds and jaggery.
Community gatherings and social festivities.
Acts of charity and religious rituals, such as bathing in sacred rivers
