Makara Sankranti

What Is Makara Sankranti?

Makara Sankranti is a prominent Hindu observance and harvest festival celebrated widely across India, and also in parts of Nepal and Bangladesh. It marks a significant astronomical event: the Sun’s transit into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn), signifying the end of the winter solstice. This solar movement heralds the beginning of longer days, a period known as ‘Uttarayan’, which is considered auspicious.

The festival is deeply rooted in agricultural cycles and is a time for expressing gratitude for a bountiful harvest. It is unique among many Hindu festivals as it is one of the few that follow the solar cycle of the Gregorian calendar, almost always falling on the same date each year. While the core essence of welcoming the Sun’s northward journey remains consistent, its name and specific customs vary considerably by region, reflecting India’s diverse cultural landscape.

History and Origins of Makara Sankranti

The historical and cultural origins of Makara Sankranti are ancient, tracing back to Vedic traditions that revered the Sun as a life-sustaining deity, Surya. The term ‘Sankranti’ refers to the day when the Sun enters a new zodiac sign. Of the twelve Sankrantis in a year, Makara Sankranti holds particular importance as it marks the Sun’s apparent movement from the southern hemisphere (Dakshinayana) to the northern hemisphere (Uttarayan). This transition was historically associated with the winter solstice.

Ancient Indian astronomy and astrology considered the Uttarayan period as a time of renewed light and growth, favourable for spiritual practices and new beginnings. Farmers also celebrated this period as the commencement of the harvest season for winter crops. Due to the Earth’s axial precession, the precise astronomical moment of the Sun’s entry into Makara has gradually shifted over centuries. Historically, this event aligned closer to December 21st, but it has moved to 14th or 15th January in the Gregorian calendar over millennia. This shift explains why the festival now falls on a relatively fixed date, disconnected from the actual solstice which occurs in December.

How Makara Sankranti Is Celebrated

Makara Sankranti is a pan-Indian festival, yet its celebrations are marked by extraordinary regional diversity, each locale adding its unique flavour. Common themes include ritual bathing in sacred rivers, offering prayers to the Sun deity, preparing special seasonal foods, and engaging in community activities.

Regional Celebrations of Makara Sankranti

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand: In these states, Makara Sankranti is often referred to as ‘Khichdi Sankranti’. Devotees undertake ritualistic dips in the Ganga and other holy rivers. A significant tradition involves the consumption of ‘khichdi’ (a dish of rice and lentils) and various sweets made from ‘til’ (sesame) and ‘gur’ (jaggery). Kite flying is a popular recreational activity.

Punjab and Haryana: Here, the festival is celebrated as ‘Maghi’, usually following Lohri, which is observed on 13th January. Festivities include community bonfires, folk dances such as Bhangra and Giddha, and the preparation of traditional foods like ‘sarson da saag’ (mustard greens curry) and ‘makki di roti’ (cornbread), alongside various ‘til’ sweets.

Maharashtra and Goa: People exchange ‘til-gul ladoo’ (sweets made from sesame and jaggery) with the greeting, “Til gul ghya, ani goad goad bola” (Take til-gul, and speak sweet words), signifying the importance of maintaining harmonious relationships. Women perform ‘Haldi-Kunku’ ceremonies, exchanging turmeric and vermillion powder, as a mark of conjugal prosperity. Kite flying is also prevalent.

Gujarat and Rajasthan: In Gujarat, Makara Sankranti is famously known as ‘Uttarayan’, and it is synonymous with a vibrant International Kite Festival, particularly in Ahmedabad. The skies are filled with countless kites, and families gather on rooftops for competitive kite flying. Special dishes like ‘undhiyu’ (a mixed vegetable dish) and ‘chikki’ (jaggery and nut brittle) are enjoyed.

West Bengal: The festival is called ‘Poush Sankranti’, aligning with the Bengali month of Poush. It is celebrated with the preparation of numerous ‘pitha’ (rice cakes) and ‘patishapta’ (crepes filled with coconut and jaggery). The Ganga Sagar Mela, a large annual pilgrimage fair, takes place at the confluence of the River Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, where pilgrims take a holy dip.

Assam: In Assam, Makara Sankranti is observed as ‘Magh Bihu’ or ‘Bhogali Bihu’, focusing heavily on feasting and community gatherings. Temporary huts called ‘Bhelaghar’ are constructed from bamboo and thatch, where communities feast and later burn them as part of a ritual known as ‘Meji Joluwa’. Traditional games like buffalo fights and pot breaking are common.

Odisha: The festival is known as Makar Sankranti or Makar Parba. Special offerings of Makar Chaula (unboiled, freshly harvested rice mixed with jaggery, coconut, banana, and sesame) are made to deities. Sun temples receive numerous visitors, and kite flying is a popular pastime.

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana: Celebrated as Sankranti, this is often a three-day festival. The first day, Bhogi, involves discarding old items into a bonfire. On the main Sankranti day, farmers decorate their cattle, and people exchange ‘ellu-bella’ (a mixture of sesame, jaggery, coconut, and peanuts). Intricate ‘rangoli’ designs adorn doorsteps, and community feasts are common. The third day, Kanuma, is dedicated to cattle worship and thanksgiving.

Tamil Nadu: Though occurring around the same time, the festival in Tamil Nadu is known as Pongal, a four-day harvest festival. The second day, Surya Pongal, is the main celebration, dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, where the Pongal (a sweet rice dish cooked with milk, jaggery, and lentils) is prepared and offered. Mattu Pongal on the third day involves the worship of cattle.

Across these diverse traditions, the spirit of new beginnings, gratitude for nature’s bounty, and strengthening community bonds remains the unifying essence of Makara Sankranti.

When Is Makara Sankranti?

Makara Sankranti is unique among many Indian festivals because it is primarily based on the solar calendar rather than the lunar calendar. Consequently, it falls on a relatively fixed date in the Gregorian calendar. Most commonly, Makara Sankranti is observed on 14th January each year.

However, due to the slight discrepancy between the sidereal year (the actual time it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun) and the Gregorian calendar, the date sometimes shifts to 15th January. This shift occurs approximately once every eight years. The determination of the exact date relies on the precise astrological moment when the Sun enters the Makara rashi (Capricorn zodiac sign). This makes Makara Sankranti one of the few Hindu festivals that align with a specific solar event, rather than lunar phases.

Makara Sankranti Key Facts