Makar Sankranti is one of India’s most widely celebrated harvest festivals, yet its spirit takes on different colours as it travels across states and cultures. Marked annually on January 14 or 15, this festival celebrates the sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makar), signalling longer days and the end of winter’s peak. While the astronomical significance remains shared, the traditions, names and rituals reflect the country’s rich regional diversity.
Pongal in Tamil Nadu gratitude and community feasts
In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti becomes Pongal, a four-day celebration that centres around thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. Households cook a special dish called pongal rice, prepared with newly harvested rice, jaggery, milk and ghee, allowing it to boil over in a symbolic gesture of abundance. Families gather, decorate cattle with flowers and bells, and offer prayers for prosperity and wellbeing.
Lohri in Punjab bonfires and winter’s farewell
In northern India, especially Punjab and parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the festival is known as Lohri. Celebrated on the eve of Makar Sankranti, it revolves around large bonfires, folk songs and community gatherings. People throw sesame seeds, jaggery and popcorn into the fire while dancing to dhol beats, marking a joyful farewell to the coldest days and welcoming longer, warmer daylight.
Uttarayan in Gujarat the kite-flying spectacle
In Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan, Makar Sankranti transforms into Uttarayan, one of the largest kite-flying festivals in the world. The clear January skies fill with thousands of colourful kites, as families and friends compete in friendly aerial duels. Rooftops become gathering spots, and the day is shared with sweets made of sesame (til), jaggery and peanuts flavours that resonate with warmth and energy in winter.
Bihu in Assam: new beginnings and cultural expression
In Assam, the festival blends into Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, emphasizing feasting and community bonfires called meji. Villagers celebrate with traditional games, cattle parades and feasts that feature rice cakes, pithas and local delicacies, marking the culmination of the harvest season.
Other regional expressions of Sankranti include Poush Sankranti in West Bengal and Khichdi Festival in Uttar Pradesh, each with its own local flavour yet rooted in the shared theme of gratitude, renewal and the ever-moving sun.Despite the variety of names and customs, these celebrations share a common thread, they honour nature’s cycles, community bonds and the hope of prosperity in the year