Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

Makar Sankranti is celebrated to mark the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar) and the end of winter. It signals longer days, a fresh harvest, and new beginnings. People celebrate with kites, sweets, and joy to welcome sunshine and prosperity!

Is Makar Sankranti on January 14 or 15?

Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 14 in non-leap years and January 15 in leap years.

What is the scientific reason for Makar Sankranti?

Flying kites on Makar Sankranti is a fun tradition that symbolizes celebrating the arrival of longer, sunnier days as winter ends.

Makar Sankranti 2025 - An Updated Guide for Travelers

Q: Why do we fly kites on Makar Sankranti?

This activity demonstrates the liberation from the darkness of ignorance and welcomes the warmth of the sun.

Makar Sankranti is a whole festive vibe starting the year with a good note! It is more of a seasonal festival than a religious one, that is celebrated in different cities of India. Makar Sankranti is mainly about the transition of the sun from the South towards the North, and entering the zodiac Maka or Capricorn.

But, we are here to let you know about the ultimate places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India, things to do at Makar Sankranti festival in India, history, and much more! If you really want to get significant knowledge about this amazing Makar Sankranti festival in India – one of the famous festivals in India, go through this guide now.

Makar Sankranti Festival Date 2025

Makar Sankranti usually falls on the same date, every year – 14th January! But, it can even fall on 15th January as well, as it is a primary harvest festival that is celebrated to mark the onset of the new season, bringing in longer days and shorter nights, and a warmer climate.

So, the Makar Sankranti festival date for 2025 is 14th January, Tuesday! Mark your calendars and get ready to enjoy the festive spirit all around.

8 Places to Celebrate Makar Sankranti in India

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in a lot of Indian cities, but every place has its own style which is unique in its own way. So, let’s get started with the different places in India where Makar Sankranti is celebrated.

1. Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is famously celebrated as Pongal! It is their harvest festival which is named after their regional sweet delicacy. It goes on for 4 days with different rituals that are unique in their own way.

So, here it is, things to do at the makar sankranti festival in India, especially Tamil Nadu!

Day 1: (Bhogi Pongal) – People get to wear new clothes, and give away their old stuff while also expressing gratitude for their new belongings. People are happy and tend to clean their homes for the betterment of their lives.

Day 2: (Surya Pongal) – It is the auspicious day that comes on the day of Makar Sankranti and people celebrate by making their sweet dish – Pongal using harvested rice, milk, and jaggery. Also, it is made by a group of people and offered to deities.

Day 3: (Mattu Pongal) – This day is all about appreciating the cattle by decorating and worshipping them. People also go to the temples for prayers and start their day on a great note by celebrating the festivities.

Day 4: (Kaanum Pongal) – This day embraces the concept of togetherness for the people. Families reunite and get together to spend quality time with each other and celebrate the fresh harvest coming on that day.

Makar Sankranti is an auspicious festival in Tamil Nadu, and that is why it is definitely one of the best places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India!

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2. Guwahati, Assam

So, when we talk about Guwahati, Assam, here the festival of Makar Sankranti is famously known as Magh Bihu or Bhogali! It is the festival of food and one of the most awaited celebrations of the year which you should not miss, as a traveler who loves to explore new things.

Like the rest of the country, Assam also marks the end of a harvest season at this time and starts the spring season. They celebrate it for two days and have the best time during these celebrations.

The first day is called Uruka, and the second is the Bhogali Bihu. The day started with jalpaan, a breakfast of chira, or flattened rice, akhoi or puffed rice bora saul, kumol saul, which are different types of rice, along with fresh cream, yogurt, and jaggery.

And, people come out of their homes in their best traditional attire for public gatherings and get the festivities started. It is one of the most celebrated festivals in Guwahati that you should know about.

3. Jaipur, Rajasthan

With the aura of a beautiful pink city, Jaipur celebrates everything in style! It is one of the best places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India, considered the northward journey of the sun, or Uttarayan, and is the year’s first celebration.

Witness the most beautiful colorful celebrations that happen on the day of Makar Sankranti. Enjoy in a vibe which is really fun with so many parties and gatherings at different places. Also, people enjoy famous delicacies like pheerni, daal ke pakore or lentil paste dumplings, and til ke laddoo.

4. Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Makar Sankranti, famously known as Uttarayn in Gujarat – where people celebrate it with kite flying. People come out on their terraces, on open ground and even on the river banks as they launch, pull, and guide their kites to soar higher than anyone else.

You will witness kites at every pace in the air, and the best part is feasting on delicious Gujarati cuisine alongside the fun kite flying. You should definitely witness one of the best places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India – Jaipur!

Also, this festivity is not just limited to Ahmedabad but also extended to parts like Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, and many more.

5. Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab

Here, the Makar Sankranti is something special that you will not want to miss. It is done here in the form of the Maghi Mela, which is conducted to honor the forty sikh warriors killed in 1705 during the battle of Muktsar.

In most of north India, the festival of Makar Sankranti coincides with the harvest festival of Lohri. In the holy city of Sri Muktsar Sahib, it is a time for prayers, thanksgiving, and much more. So, the devout head to the gurudwara to take a dip in the temple tank or the Sarovar to offer their prayers.

Meanwhile, people also enjoy the kheer which is considered to be very auspicious to have it on such occasions.

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6. Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

It is one of the famous places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India! People go to take dips in the holy water of the Ganges through the heart of Prayagraj, and besides this, many people have fun with kite flying as well.

Everybody is so keen on the Makar Sankranti festival here, they even come out in their best attires and attend the famous Magh Mela that brings together lakhs of devotees.

Since a lot of people come to visit Prayagraj during the festival of Makar Sankranti, it is better to book your transport in advance! As this is a major festival which is celebrated in this city, you better get prepared for your own travel.

7. Kolkata, West Bengal

When we talk about the best places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India, you cannot miss the joy of Kolkata! The soulful embodiment of culture, love, mystery, enthusiasm, and many more sweet delicacies to embrace on this beautiful festival.

Here, it is vastly celebrated as Poush Mela with a sky decked with colorful high-flying kites and the delicious aroma of “pithes” being made in every household across the state. At this time of the year, Kolkata and the neighbouring parts even get to experience the fruition of a lot of fairs that locals call “mela”.

So, make sure you get to enjoy the pure bliss of festivities in one of the best places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India.

8. Haridwar, Uttarakhand

As we all know, Haridwar is among the most spiritual Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. When we talk about the Makar Sankranti festival in India, we cannot forget about Haridwar. It holds a massive celebration for this day!

People go and attend the Ganga aarti, and take a blessed dip in the holy water of the river Ganges which is said to be the best part!

Traveling to places that hold the significance of such celebrations is a whole different vibe! So, make sure you get to experience such amazing festivities in one of the best places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India.

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Things to Do at Makar Sankranti Festival in India

As the auspicious festival approaches, you should know that it’s time to embrace the festivities with so many ultimate things to do at Makar Sankranti festival in India.

Makar Sankranti, also known as the kite festival is a very joyous occasion that marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn and also holds great significance. Although people have their own rituals in every state, these are some important things to do at the Makar Sankranti festival in India.

1. Flying Kites

It is the most iconic activity where people gather on their rooftops and open spaces to enjoy this highly competitive activity. You can see a sky full of colorful kites, as it tends to be a canvas when people indulge in kite fights, but with immense joy!

People come with their true festive spirit as families and friends come together to fly kites and enjoy the pleasant weather. Also, this activity demonstrates the liberation from the darkness of ignorance and welcomes the warmth of the sun.

This is one of the best things to do at Makar Sankranti festival in India, but different regions have their own unique styles adding cultural diversity to the celebrations.

2. Setting up bonfires

Yet another things to do at the Makar Sankranti festival in India is set up bonfires in the evening. People gather around these bonfires which helps to get rid of negativity and welcome positivity and new beginnings.

Also, it is lit using dried leaves, wood, and cow dung cakes. People circle around the bonfire, singing traditional songs and dancing to the beats of drums.

3. Making colorful rangolis

Rangoli is said to be the most integral part when you are decorating for a festival. People come out to make beautiful rangolis outside their homes to welcome positivity and good luck for the year ahead.

These vibrant designs on the ground not only beautify the surroundings but also showcase the creativity of the individuals.

These are made using colored powders, flowers, rice, or even crushed stones. You can come out and show your creativity by drawing symmetrical designs which are really appealing.

4. Preparing Traditional Food

The Makar Sankranti festival is incomplete without preparing delicious traditional food. Everyone has their specialty dishes, made with freshly harvested ingredients. So, get ready to enjoy some of the best dishes to add flavor to the festive celebrations and bring families together for a grand festivity.

For example, people prepare Tilgul, Tilachi Wadi in Maharashtra, Undhiyu, sesame laddoos and jalebis in Gujarat, Makki roti, sarson ka saag in Punjab and Ariselu, Bobbatulu in Andhra Pradesh.

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5. Fairs and cultural programs

Makar Sankranti is not just about traditional activities, but also promoting local culture and talents. There are so many fairs organized where people come together to enjoy the festive spirit and have a lot more fun. These kinds of events add to the festive fervor and provide a platform where people can come and display their skills.

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