Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is a major Hindu festival celebrated across India and Nepal, marking the transition of the Sun (Surya) into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). It signifies the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days, symbolising light, prosperity, and new beginnings. Observed annually on 14 January (occasionally on 15 January, depending on solar movement), it is one of the few Indian festivals based on the solar calendar, ensuring a fixed date each year. The festival carries deep agricultural, seasonal, and spiritual significance, blending ritual devotion with cultural festivities.

Astronomical and Seasonal Significance

The term Makar Sankranti derives from two Sanskrit words: Makar (Capricorn) and Sankranti (transmigration or transition). It marks the day when the Sun moves from the zodiac sign Sagittarius (Dhanu Rashi) into Capricorn (Makara Rashi), a celestial event symbolising the commencement of the Sun’s northward journey known as Uttarayana.
This transition holds special importance in Hindu astronomy, as it heralds a period considered auspicious for spiritual practices, rituals, and new ventures. From this day onwards, the duration of daylight gradually increases, signifying the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
Agriculturally, Makar Sankranti coincides with the harvest season in India. It marks the conclusion of the winter crop cycle (Rabi crop) and the beginning of the new agricultural year, making it a festival of gratitude towards nature and the Sun god for good harvests.

Mythological and Religious Background

Hindu mythology associates Makar Sankranti with several legends that underscore its spiritual significance:

• Worship of Surya (Sun God): The festival honours Surya Deva, the giver of life and energy. People express gratitude for his benevolence through prayers, offerings, and rituals at sunrise.
• The Legend of Bhishma Pitamah: In the Mahabharata, Bhishma chose to leave his mortal body on the day of Makar Sankranti, believing it to be an auspicious time for attaining liberation (moksha).
• The Story of Sankranti Devi: According to folklore, Sankranti is personified as a goddess who defeated the demon Sankarasur, symbolising the victory of righteousness.
• Connection with Lord Vishnu: In another legend, Lord Vishnu is said to have buried the demons beneath the Mandara mountain on this day, symbolising the end of evil and the dawn of goodness.

Because of these associations, Makar Sankranti is considered one of the most spiritually favourable days of the year for performing punya karma (righteous deeds), bathing in sacred rivers, and offering charity.

Regional Variations and Celebrations

Makar Sankranti is celebrated with different names, customs, and rituals across India, reflecting the country’s cultural diversity while maintaining a shared solar and harvest theme.

• Uttarayan (Gujarat): Celebrated as a grand kite-flying festival, symbolising the ascent of the Sun. The skies fill with colourful kites, and the day is marked by music, food, and joy. Cities like Ahmedabad and Surat host the International Kite Festival to coincide with this celebration.
• Pongal (Tamil Nadu): A four-day harvest festival expressing gratitude to the Sun god, cattle, and nature. The first day is Bhogi, followed by Thai Pongal (main festival), Mattu Pongal (dedicated to cattle), and Kaanum Pongal (family reunions). Special dishes such as Pongal (sweet rice cooked with jaggery and milk) are prepared.
• Magh Bihu (Assam): Also known as Bhogali Bihu, it marks the end of the harvesting season. People build temporary huts (meji) for community feasts and burn them the next morning as an offering to the gods. Traditional games, dances, and music are central to the celebrations.
• Lohri (Punjab and Haryana): Celebrated on the eve of Makar Sankranti, Lohri involves lighting bonfires, singing folk songs, and dancing bhangra and gidda. Offerings of sesame seeds (til), jaggery (gur), and puffed rice are made to the fire.
• Khichdi (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar): Known as Khichdi Parv, it is celebrated by bathing in holy rivers like the Ganga and preparing khichdi (a rice-lentil dish) as a symbolic offering. The Ganga Sagar Mela in West Bengal, held where the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal, attracts thousands of pilgrims who take a sacred dip.
• Makara Vilakku (Kerala): Observed at the Sabarimala Temple, marking the celestial light that appears on the horizon during this time, believed to symbolise divine presence.
• Sankramana (Karnataka): Devotees exchange ellū-bella (a mix of sesame seeds, jaggery, coconut, and groundnuts) with the saying “Ellu bella thindu olle maathadi” (“Eat sweet and speak sweet words”), promoting harmony and goodwill.
• Magha Mela (Prayagraj): An annual fair held along the banks of the Ganges, where devotees perform snan (holy bath) to wash away sins and attain spiritual merit.

Each region’s celebration shares the common thread of expressing gratitude to nature, family unity, and renewal of life energy.

Rituals and Customs

Makar Sankranti is primarily observed through rituals centred on purity, charity, and gratitude. Common customs include:

• Holy Bath (Snan): Taking a ritual bath in rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, or Godavari is believed to cleanse sins and purify the soul.
• Offerings and Prayers: Devotees offer water to the Sun god at sunrise, accompanied by chants of Gayatri Mantra or Surya Namaskar.
• Charity (Dāna): Acts of giving—especially food, clothes, and sesame seeds—are considered highly meritorious on this day.
• Cooking Special Dishes: Traditional foods made from sesame (til), jaggery (gur), rice, and milk are prepared, symbolising warmth and togetherness during winter. Common sweets include tilgul, laddoos, and chikki.
• Social Gatherings: Families and communities come together to share meals, exchange greetings, and fly kites, reinforcing social harmony and joy.

The symbolic exchange of sweets made from sesame and jaggery in states like Maharashtra is accompanied by the phrase “Tilgul ghya, goad goad bola” (“Accept these sweets and speak sweet words”), expressing goodwill and reconciliation.

Cultural and Agricultural Importance

Makar Sankranti has deep agricultural importance as it marks the end of the harvest season for winter crops and the preparation for the next sowing cycle. Farmers express gratitude for their yield and seek blessings for prosperity. The festival also signifies the unity of India’s agrarian culture—whether celebrated as Pongal, Lohri, or Bihu, it embodies the same spirit of thanksgiving to the forces of nature.
The celebration also reflects social inclusivity, transcending caste, class, and regional boundaries. The emphasis on sharing food, performing charity, and participating in communal festivities fosters equality and compassion.

Symbolism and Philosophical Meaning

Philosophically, Makar Sankranti symbolises the ascent of the human spirit from darkness to light—both literally and metaphorically. The Sun’s northward journey (Uttarayana) represents spiritual enlightenment, self-discipline, and progress.
It also conveys the cyclical nature of time and the importance of aligning human life with cosmic rhythm. The festival reminds devotees of the interdependence between the individual, nature, and the divine, inspiring balance and gratitude in everyday living.

Contemporary Celebrations

In modern India, Makar Sankranti remains one of the most widely celebrated festivals, blending traditional observances with contemporary festivities. Urban and rural communities alike engage in kite flying, fairs, folk music, and cultural performances. Schools, temples, and public institutions organise charitable events, health camps, and communal meals.
The festival’s environmental and agrarian themes have also gained renewed relevance in modern sustainability discourses, highlighting the timeless connection between humans and nature.