Makar Sankranti is a significant festival celebrated across India, marking the Sun’s transition into Capricorn. It signifies the end of winter, the arrival of warmer days, and the start of the harvest season. The festival holds cultural, spiritual, and agricultural importance, bringing families and communities together through various traditions like kite flying, feasts, religious rituals, and charity.

Here we will discuss the significance of Makar Sankranti, how its celebrations across different states, the cultural traditions associated with it, and the reasons for its observance.

What is Makar Sankranti?

Makar refers to the zodiac sign Capricorn, marking the Sun’s transition into Capricorn during Makar Sankranti. This event signifies the Sun’s northward journey (Uttarayana), ending the winter solstice and ushering in longer, warmer days. Sankranti comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “transition,” symbolizing the Sun’s movement from one zodiac sign to another.

Makar Sankranti signifies the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer, warmer days, symbolizing hope, renewal, and the victory of light over darkness. Makar Sankranti also marks the harvest season, especially for crops like sugarcane, rice, and sesame. It is a time for family gatherings, festive meals, prayers for a bountiful harvest, and community celebrations across India.

Makar Sankranti 2025 Date

Makar Sankranti 2025 will be celebrated on January 14th. Unlike other Hindu festivals that follow the lunar calendar, Makar Sankranti is based on the solar calendar. This means its date remains fixed every year, unlike festivals like Diwali or Holi, which vary. Makar Sankranti’s date is usually fixed as January 14 or 15, depending on the Sun’s precise transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar).

Makar Sankranti Festival

Makar Sankranti is celebrated with great zeal in different parts of India, and each region has its own set of unique customs and traditions. The festival is widely regarded as a time for renewal, joy, and thanksgiving.

The festival is also marked by charitable acts such as donations of clothes, food, and money to the less fortunate, as it is believed that such acts during Makar Sankranti bring blessings for the year ahead.

States Celebrating Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is celebrated across numerous states in India, each with its unique customs and traditions. The way it is observed varies regionally:

• Maharashtra: The festival is celebrated with tilgul (sweets made of sesame and jaggery), and flying kites is a popular tradition.
• Gujarat: Makar Sankranti is a grand celebration with kite festivals, bonfires, and community feasts.
• Rajasthan: The festival is marked by colorful festivities, kite flying, and traditional feasts.
• Punjab: Known as Lohri, people celebrate by gathering around bonfires, singing, and dancing to traditional folk music.
• Uttar Pradesh: The festival is celebrated with religious rituals, prayers, flying kites, and family gatherings.
• West Bengal: Makar Sankranti is celebrated with kite flying, sweets, and local festivals.
• South India: In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is observed as Pongal, a four-day festival honoring nature’s abundance, with families preparing traditional foods like sweet rice and offering prayers to the Sun God.
• Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: The festival is marked with vibrant cultural events, including bullock cart races and community celebrations.

Although the customs may vary, Makar Sankranti is widely observed throughout India, each region adding its own cultural flavor to the festivities.

Why is Makar Sankranti Celebrated?

Makar Sankranti is celebrated for several reasons, most of which have roots in ancient customs, astronomical events, and agrarian practices. It is celebrated to mark the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar), which happens every year around January 14th. This marks the start of the Sun’s northward journey, known as Uttarayana. According to Hindu beliefs, the Sun moves from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, bringing longer and warmer days. This transition is seen as a time of hope, renewal, and positivity.

The festival also signifies the end of the cold winter and the arrival of the harvest season. It is a time to thank nature and the Sun God for providing warmth and helping crops grow. In many regions, Makar Sankranti is closely linked to the harvest of crops like rice, sugarcane, sesame, and barley, especially in rural areas. Farmers celebrate this time as a moment to reap the rewards of their hard work.

Makar Sankranti is also considered a time for family gatherings, offering prayers for prosperity, and sharing sweets. In many parts of India, people engage in fun activities such as flying kites, bonfires, and singing traditional songs. The festival reflects the victory of light over darkness and is a symbol of new beginnings and good fortune.

Cultural Significance of Makar Sankranti

The cultural significance of Makar Sankranti goes beyond its agricultural and astronomical associations; it is deeply rooted in the Indian ethos of unity, community, and spirituality.

• Gratitude for Harvest: Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival that reflects the gratitude of farmers for a bountiful crop. It celebrates the fruits of their labor and acknowledges the abundance of nature, fostering a deep connection between people and the land.
• Unity and Community: The festival encourages unity and togetherness. Families come together to celebrate, and communities participate in shared activities. It is a time for socializing, bonding, and reinforcing relationships within families and communities.
• Exchange of Sweets: The exchange of sweets, especially those made from sesame and jaggery (tilgul), is a significant tradition. These sweets symbolize warmth, sweetness, and the strengthening of bonds, as well as the sharing of joy and goodwill.
• New Clothes and Festive Celebrations: In many regions, people wear new clothes to mark the occasion, symbolizing new beginnings. People also participate in local fairs and enjoy traditional cultural performances like folk dances, music, and other regional festivities that reflect the rich cultural diversity of India.
• Emphasis on Charity: Makar Sankranti promotes the spirit of charity. People are encouraged to donate food, clothing, and money to those in need, with the belief that such acts of giving bring good karma and blessings in the coming year.
• Spiritual and Religious Observance: The festival holds spiritual significance, with people engaging in prayers and rituals to seek blessings from the Sun God. It is a time for purification and renewal, both spiritually and physically.
• Victory of Light Over Darkness: The transition of the Sun into Capricorn symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, a theme that resonates with personal growth, hope, and optimism for the future.

How is Makar Sankranti Celebrated?

Makar Sankranti is celebrated with vibrant traditions and rituals across India, marking the Sun’s transition into Capricorn. The festival brings people together through cultural activities, family gatherings, and religious observances.

• Kite Flying (Gujarat & Rajasthan):
  Makar Sankranti is famously celebrated with kite-flying competitions. People of all ages fly vibrant kites, filling the skies with color. This tradition is especially popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Tilgul and Sweet Traditions (Maharashtra):
  In Maharashtra, people prepare tilgul (a mixture of sesame seeds and jaggery). This sweet is exchanged with family and friends along with the greeting, “Tilgul ghya, god god bola” (Take sesame and jaggery, and speak sweet words).
• Pongal Celebrations (Southern India):
  In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal. Families prepare a special dish called Pongal from freshly harvested rice and offer it to the Sun God. The festival includes rituals, public gatherings, and traditional music and dance performances.
• Lohri (Punjab):
  In Punjab, Makar Sankranti is called Lohri, where people light bonfires, sing folk songs, and dance the Bhangra and Gidda. It’s a celebration of the harvest, focused on socializing and enjoying community life.
• Religious Rituals:
  Makar Sankranti holds religious significance, with many people taking holy dips in rivers like the Ganges or Yamuna to purify themselves and seek blessings from the Sun God.
• Festivals and Fairs:
  The festival is marked by fairs, cultural performances, and the wearing of new clothes. These events bring people together, fostering unity, goodwill, and celebration of community life.

Conclusion

Makar Sankranti is a vibrant and meaningful festival that celebrates the harvest season, the transition of the Sun into Capricorn, and the triumph of light over darkness. It holds immense cultural, spiritual, and agricultural significance, bringing people together across regions in joyous celebrations. The festival is marked by various customs such as flying kites, cooking traditional sweets, performing rituals, and engaging in acts of charity.

Makar Sankranti 2025 FQAs

Q1. What is the Date of Makar Sankranti 2025?

Answer: The date of Makar Sankranti in 2025 is Tuesday, January 14th.

Q2. Makar Sankranti Festival is Celebrated in Which State?

Answer: Makar Sankranti is celebrated across many states in India. Some of the major states include: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, etc.

Q3. Why is Makar Sankranti significant?

Answer: Makar Sankranti is significant as it marks the Sun’s transition into Capricorn, signaling the start of warmer days. It also celebrates the harvest season, symbolizing gratitude for crops, spiritual growth, and the victory of light over darkness.

Q4. Why do people take a dip in rivers during Makar Sankranti?

Answer: Taking a holy dip in rivers like the Ganges or Yamuna during Makar Sankranti is believed to purify the body and soul. It is considered an act of devotion and spiritual renewal, seeking blessings for the year ahead.

Q5. What are the traditional foods associated with Makar Sankranti?

Answer: Traditional foods include tilgul (sesame and jaggery sweets), Pongal (a dish made from newly harvested rice), khichdi, and other regional delicacies. These foods celebrate the harvest season and symbolize prosperity.