मकर संक्रांति Makar Sankranti
January 14, 2025
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
मकर संक्रांति (Makar Sankranti, transit to Capricon), is the first and most auspicious of the twelve Sankrants during the year and is celebrated in India; in South and South East Asia; and by the Indian diaspora.
Sankrant is the transit of Sun from one Rashi (constellation of zodiac) to the next. Makar Sankranti is Sun’s transit from the zodiac sign Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makara (Capricon). Alongside the transit to Makara (Capricon), the Sun also moves to the northern hemisphere, [2] which marks the beginning of the end of winter and the start of warmer/ longer days.
All the twelve transits of सूर्य देव (Surya Dev, Sun God) to the next Rashi are considered auspicious, but the transit to Makar Rashi (Capricon) is considered the most auspicious.
To the rationalist, absence of sunshine and warmth in the winter months, recognises the value/ importance of sun/ shine, and so the associated metaphor `most auspicious’.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated during the lunar month of Magha, corresponding to January of the Gregorian calendar. This is one of the few festivals which falls around the same date every year (January 14 or 15).
Makar Sankranti occurs when Sun enters Capricorn and is observed on a day, that usually falls on 14 January, and on 15 January in leap years.
Surya Dev is worshipped by taking a ritual bath in sacred rivers, especially Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and Krishna, and in local rivers and local water bodies and by performing acts of charity. Sun is worshipped because it nourishes life on mother earth.
On Makar Sankranti, Sun is worshipped along with Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi. In parts of Southern India, on the day following Sankranti, Lord Krishna is also worshipped, based on the legend of Lord Krishna having lifted Govardhan parbat.[3] Apart from deities, cattle are worshipped during Sankranti, recognising their economic contribution and signifying harmony with nature.
The significance of worshipping Surya Dev (Sun God) is traced back to Vedic times, the Gayatri Mantra in Rigveda. It is believed that Sankranti, after whom the festival is named, was a deity, who killed a demon called Sankarasur on this day.
The sound of the Sun/ rays is AUM orOM, ॐ. USA agency, NASA discovered that ॐ is the inaudible part of the Sun rays, which were heard and in use in Hindu texts.
List of Sankranti related/ timed festivals
In most states/ regions of India, and in South and South-East Asia, Sankranti is celebrated for two to four days. These festivals fall on the same date every year (January 13/ 14). On each day, there are festivities with different names, associated rituals and celebrations.
Names of Sankranti related/ timed festivals and associated states | ||
Day | Name of Celebration | State/Region and Countries # |
1 January 13, 2025 | Bhogi/ Pandigai | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
| Lal Loi | Parts of India where the Sindhi Community resides, Sindh province of Pakistan |
| Lohri | States of erstwhile Punjab (Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab), the land of five rivers, Jammu region, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh; and in parts of Pakistan (especially Punjab province). |
| Uruka of Magh Bihu $ | Assam |
2 January 14, 2025 | Makar/ Sankranti | All over Indian especially, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal |
| Dahi Chura | Bihar |
| Ghughuti | Uttarakhand |
| Khichidi Sankranti | Uttar Pradesh |
| Magh Bihu/ Bhogali Bihu/ Tusu Maghar Domahi $ | Assam |
| Maghi Saaji/ Magha Ra Saza | Himachal Pradesh |
| Maghi Parva/ Maghi Sankranti | Bihar, Nepal |
| Maghi Sangrand/ Uttarain/ Uttarayana | Haryana, Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab, Uttarkhand |
| Makar Sankraman | Karnataka |
| Makara Vilakku | Kerala |
| Pedda Panduga | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Poush Sankranti/ Mokor Sonkranti | West Bengal |
| Sakrat/ Sakraat/ Sukarat | Central India, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, |
| Sankranti | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Shishur Senkrath | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Suggi | Karnataka |
| Thai Pongal or Uzhavar Thirunal | Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry; and in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka |
| Til Sakraat | Mithila Region |
| Uttarayana (Uttarain) | Gujarat, Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Uttar Pradesh |
| Uttarayani | Uttarakhand |
3 January 15, 2025 | Kanuma Panduga | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Mattu (Bull) Pongal (Jallikattu or Manji Virattu is also observed on this day) | Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry; and in Malaysia, Singapore |
4 January 16, 2025 | Kaanum Pongal (is also observed as Thiruvalluvar Day) | Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry |
| Mukkanuma | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
Note: 1. Compiled by the Author 2. # The festivals are also celebrated in adjoining/ other states/ regions. 3. $ Dates as per the Assam government https://www.legalitysimplified.com/assam-government-announces-list-of-holidays-for-the-year-2025/ |
Makar Sankranti is called Maghe Sankranti in Nepal, Songkran in Thailand, Thingyan in Myanmar and Mohan Songkran in Cambodia.
Celebrations of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different states in forms symbolising unity in diversity of Indian culture, religion, society, but not in a homogenous pattern of one-size-fits all.
Different forms of celebration/ prayer ceremonies across states/ regions, have an undercurrent that the crop is ready and it is time for fun and enjoyment. In all states/ regions, Makar Sankranti is observed by paying obeisance to Surya Dev (Sun God), whose light and heat energy nourishes life on Earth.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated with social festivities, bonfires, colourful decorations, dances, kite flying, and making sweets from til and gur. A shared cultural practice found in the celebrations across Indian sub-continent, is preparation of sweets particularly from sesame (til) with a base such as jaggery/ gur. Use of til ladoos, til-gur, gur patti, add to body resistance to fight/ resist cold. [4]
In Odisha on Makar Sankranti, makar chaula — a healthy, uncooked sweet — is made from freshly harvested flattened rice flakes, mixed with fruits like banana, grated coconut, and jaggery or sugar.
Makar Sankranti Rituals
Those celebrating Makar Sankranti, wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and offer water containing red flowers and rice grains to Sun Dev. Devotees make donations like new grains, blankets, utensils, sesame seeds, and ghee.
The festival is celebrated in each region with distinctive traditions.
In North India, it is celebrated as Lohri. In Southern parts of India, it is celebrated as Pongal.
In Gujarat and Rajasthan, it is celebrated by flying colourful kites. In Eastern India, the Ganga Sagar Mela is the key event. There are Paush Melas held in several cities.
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sankranti is celebrated as Bhogi Pandigai, Pedda Panduga and Kanuma Panduga, for four days. On the first day Bhogi Pandigai, Lord Indra is worshipped by farmers to bless the land with prosperity, wealth and good rains. Pedda Panduga (Big festival) on the second day, is dedicated to Surya Dev. On Kanuma Panduga, the third day as part of Telangana's farming culture, farmers clean farm implements, give cattle a ritual bath, with oil on the horns, turmeric on the head and kumkum on the forehead.
In Assam, Sankranti celebrated as Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi or Bhogali Bihu, is dedicated to Agni Dev, and is a harvest festival, with community feasts and lighting of bonfires known as Meji. The festival begins with Uruka, followed by Bihu. Jolpan, a sweet platter is prepared from various types of rice like Bora Saul, Kumol Saul and served with milk or curd and jaggery. There are delightful treats like Narikol Laru (coconut laddoo), Ghila Pitha (fried rice dumplings), Tekeli Pitha, Kachi Pitha, and Sunga Pithas.
In Gujarat, it is celebrated as Uttarayana. Gifts are given to younger members of the family. Kite flying is an important social activity. 'Kai Po Che' is the call given when you cut the kite/ string of a competitor. It is called ‘woh/ boh kate’ in Punjab. At Mumbai’s Girgaon Chowpatty, large groups gather to fly kites and celebrate the festival.
In Kerala, Makara Vilakku is an important festival at Sabarimala Temple. Thousands of devotees of Lord Ayyappa gather at the temple to see Makar Vilakku (light or flame) which appears thrice on the Ponnambalamedu hill, 4 km away from the temple.
In Maharashtra, Makar Sankranti is a three-day long festival. Family/ friends are greeted by sharing traditional food like multi-coloured Halwa, Puran Poli, and Til-Gul Laddoo. Bajra Roti sprinkled with til and mixed vegetable (palak, carrot, peas) is eaten. Haldi-Kumkum is an event for married women.
In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Pongal for four days as Thai Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu (cow) Pongal and Kaanum (to see) Pongal. [5]
Kaappu Kattu, a tradition of tying neem (and other) leaves, with medicinal qualities on the roofs of houses and in residential areas is practiced in Kongu (nectar or honey) Nadu. [6]
In West Bengal, Makar Sankranti or Poush Songkranti is celebrated as Poush Parbon. Gangasagar, is an island in the Ganga delta, before the river joins the Bay of Bengal and is famous for hosting the Gangasagar Mela, around Poush Songkranti. People take a ritual bath early in the morning and donate til seeds to the poor. Pithas or sweets are made from coconut, jaggery, milk and rice flour.
Food preparations during Makar Sankranti
Dahi Chura Gur: This dish from Bihar, includes curd or yogurt, chivda/ chirava (flattened rice flakes) and jaggery, and is eaten on Makar Sankranti.
Khichdi: Khichdi is prepared for lunch in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Khichdi prepared with rice, pulses, vegetables, and dry fruits, is a wholesome meal served with lots of desi ghee (clarified white butter). It is served with mixed vegetables, papad, chutney, dahi, and achar. In parts of India, Urad Dal kichdi is prepared. Along with khichdi, mashed potato, range of pakodas (brinjal/ eggplant, potato, onion, cauliflower) are also eaten.
Major Sun Temples
Worship of Surya Dev is reflected in the several Sun temples in India. The most prominent Sun temple is the `Konark Sun temple’, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the Black Pagoda at Konark in Odisha.
Surajkund 'Lake of the Sun' is an ancient reservoir built in the 10th century, is located on Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli range, Faridabad, Haryana
ॐ सूर्याय नम:
Prayers for Surya Dev
Gayatri Mahamantra गायत्री महामन्त्र
In Sanskrit
ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात्।
सूर्य नमस्कार Surya namaskara is a yoga mudra and has an associated prayer mantra invoking 12 names of Surya Dev, while the yogi faces the sun and practices the 12 sun asanas. [7]
1. ॐ हृां मित्राय नम: , Om Mitraya namaha
2. ॐ हृीं रवये नम: , Om Ravayre namaha
3. ॐ हूं सूर्याय नम: , Om Suryaya namaha
4. ॐ ह्रां भानवे नम: , Om Bhanave namaha
5. ॐ हृों खगाय नम: , Om Khagaya namaha
6. ॐ हृ: पूषणे नम: , Om Pushne namaha
7. ॐ ह्रां हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः , Om Hiranyagarbhaya namaha
8. ॐ मरीचये नमः , Om Marichaye namaha
9. ॐ आदित्याय नमः , Om Adityaya namaha
10. ॐ सवित्रे नमः , Om Savitre namaha
11. ॐ अर्काय नमः , Om Arkaya namaha
12. ॐ भास्कराय नमः , Om Bhaskaraya namaha
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
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can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The earth revolves around the Sun, which is static compared to Earth. However, due to the axial tilt of the earth, during the six months commencing December 21 or 22, the Sun/ shine becomes stronger in the northern hemisphere, so the metaphor that Sun moves to the northern hemisphere.
[3] Devotees of Lord Krishna celebrate the event by preparing 56 dishes, which story can be read at https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/chappan-bhog-rohit-kumar-parmar .
[4] For details on Til and Gur preparations please see link
[5] A separate article on Pongal is available at the url
[6] Kongu Nadu or Kongu Mandalam, is the geographical region comprising the western and north-western part of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in some instances, parts of south-eastern Karnataka and eastern Kerala.
[7] Details of the Surya Namaskar can be found on the web and in books.
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