Makar Sankranti: A Festival of Sun, Harvest, and Joy Across India

Makar Sankranti is an important festival in India that celebrates the Sun’s warmth and the harvest season. People celebrate it with joy and devotion in different ways across the country. In Gujarat, people fly colorful kites, in Uttar Pradesh, they pray with devotion, and in Tamil Nadu, they prepare the special dish called Pongal.

In 2025, the most auspicious time for prayers, called the Punya Kaal, will be from 9:03 AM to 5:46 PM on January 14. This is the best time to make offerings to the Sun God and perform religious ceremonies. Makar Sankranti marks the Sun’s journey from the zodiac sign Sagittarius (Dhanu) to Capricorn (Makar) and the start of the harvest season, signaling the end of winter.

Significance of Makar Sankranti: Makar Sankranti is one of the few festivals based on the solar calendar, which means it falls on a fixed date each year. It marks the beginning of Uttarayana, an auspicious period in Hinduism. It’s also a time for new beginnings and growth, as well as a celebration of the harvest season. Farmers express their gratitude for the crops, such as wheat, barley, and mustard, that they harvest.

Rituals:

• Taking a Holy Dip: Many people take a holy dip in rivers like the Ganges and Yamuna to wash away their sins. Popular places for this are Haridwar, Prayagraj, and Varanasi.
• Offering Prayers to the Sun: Makar Sankranti is dedicated to the Sun God, and people pray to him for health, wealth, and prosperity. Offerings like til (sesame) and gur (jaggery) are made during these prayers.
• Donating and Charity: Many people donate clothes, grains, and sweets to the needy, believing it brings good fortune.
• Flying Kites: A fun tradition in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan is flying colorful kites. People gather on rooftops to enjoy this activity.
• Bonfires and Festive Foods: In some states, people light bonfires to celebrate the end of winter. They also prepare special foods like tilgul (sesame and jaggery sweets) and Puran Poli to share with family and friends.

Names and Celebrations in Different States:

• Gujarat: Known as Uttarayan, this is a huge kite-flying festival filled with competition and joy.
• Maharashtra: Called Makar Sankranti, people exchange sweets made from sesame and jaggery like tilgul.
• Uttar Pradesh: People take holy dips in the Ganges and offer prayers to the Sun God.
• Tamil Nadu: Called Pongal, this is a multi-day festival where people cook a special dish called Pongal made from rice and lentils to honor the Sun God.
• Karnataka: Like Tamil Nadu, people celebrate Pongal with special food and cultural activities.
• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Known as Sankranti, this festival includes family gatherings, prayers, and making traditional dishes.

Makar Sankranti brings people together, with each region celebrating in its own unique way, making it a diverse and unifying festival in India.