मकर संक्रांति Makar SankrantiJanuary 14, 2026 -Rohit Kumar Parmar
- rohitkparmar
- Jan 13
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मकर संक्रांति Makar Sankranti
January 14, 2026
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
मकर संक्रांति (Makar Sankranti, Sun’s transit to Capricorn), is the first and the 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 (Capricorn). Alongside the transit to Makara (Capricorn), the Sun also moves to the northern hemisphere, [2] which marks the beginning of the end of winter and the start of longer/ warmer 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 (Capricorn) 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’.
To feel/ appreciate the impact of sun/ shine, the reader should stand in the early hours of a winter morning, directly facing the sun, preferably with closed eyes.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated during the lunar month of Magha, corresponding to January of the Gregorian calendar. Makar Sankranti is observed when Sun enters Capricorn, that usually falls on 14th January, and on 15th January in leap years. This is one of the few festivals which falls around the same date every year.
Sun is worshipped because it nourishes life on mother earth. Sun 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.
On Makar Sankranti, Sun is worshipped along with Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi. In parts of South 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 also 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 OM, ॐ. The US agency NASA, discovered that ॐ is the inaudible part of the Sun rays, which were heard and used in Hindu texts. There are controversies on this.
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 timed/ related festivals and associated States | ||
Day | Name of Celebration | State/Region and Countries # |
1 January 13, 2026 | Bhogi/ Pandigai | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
| Lal Loi | Parts of India where the Sindhi Community now reside, Sindh province of Pakistan |
| Lohri | States of erstwhile Punjab (the land of five rivers), the Indian part consisting of Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, today’s Punjab; Jammu region, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh; and in parts of Pakistan (especially the Punjab province) |
2 January 14, 2026 | Makar/ Sankranti | All over India especially, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal |
| Ghughutiya | Uttarakhand |
| Khichidi Sankranti | Bihar, parts of North and Central India, Uttar Pradesh |
| Maghi Parva/ Sangrand/ Saaji Magha Ra Saza
Maghi Sankranti | Haryana, Himachal Pradesh Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab, Uttarkhand,
Bihar, Nepal |
| Makara Vilakku | Kerala |
| Pedda Panduga | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Pongal | Tamil Nadu |
| Poush Sankranti/ Poush Parbon/ Pithe Parbon | West Bengal |
| Sankranti | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, All states |
| Shishur Senkrath | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Thai Pongal | Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry; and in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka |
| Til Sakraat | Mithila Region of Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Nepal |
| Tirmoori | Parts of India where the Sindhi Community resides, Sindh province of Pakistan |
| Tusu Puja | Amongst tribes in Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal |
| Uttarain/ Uttarain/ Uttarayana | Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand |
3 January 15, 2026 | Kanuma Panduga | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Magh Bihu/ Bhogali Bihu/ Maghar Domahi $ | Assam |
| 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 |
| Uruka of Magh Bihu | Assam |
4 January 16, 2026 | Kaanum Pongal, Also observed as Thiruvalluvar Day | Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry |
| Mukkanuma | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
Source: 1. Compiled by the Author
Note: 1. # The festivals are also celebrated in adjoining/ other states/ regions. 2. $ Dates as per the Assam government | ||
Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Maghi Sankranti in Nepal (14 January 2026) and as Thingyan in Myanmar (13-16 January 2026).
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 the 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
Folks celebrating Makar Sankranti, wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and offer water containing red flowers and rice grains to Surya Dev. Devotees make donations like new grains, blankets, ghee, sesame seeds, and utensils.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in each region with different traditions.
In North India, Makar Sankranti 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, Kanuma Panduga and Mukkanuma, for four days. On the first day Bhogi Pandigai, Lord Indra is worshipped by farmers to bless the land with good rains, crop, prosperity, and wealth. 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, apply 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 (Fire God), 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 dishes/ sweets like Narikol Laru (coconut laddoo), Ghila Pitha (fried rice dumplings), Tekeli Pitha, Kachi Pitha, and Sunga Pithas.
In Gujarat, Sankranti 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 (sesame) is eaten with mixed vegetables (palak, carrot, peas). 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, 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.
Select 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, [7] 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
Prayers for Surya Dev
ॐ सूर्याय नम:
Gayatri Mahamantra गायत्री महामन्त्र
ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात्।
हम उस परम सत्ता का ध्यान करते हैं जो तीनों लोकों (भौतिक, मानसिक, आध्यात्मिक) में व्याप्त है;
वह दिव्य प्रकाश हमारी बुद्धि को प्रबुद्ध करे
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. [8]
1. ॐ मित्राय नम: , Om Mitraya namaha
2. ॐ रवये नम: , Om Ravaye namaha
3. ॐ सूर्याय नम: , Om Suryaya namaha
4. ॐ भानवे नम: , Om Bhanave namaha
5. ॐ खगाय नम: , Om Khagaya namaha
6. ॐ पूषणे नम: , Om Pushne namaha
7. ॐ 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, Economics, Law, Consumer Issues, Content Creator, Data Analysist, Performance Evaluator. 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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[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
[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 parts of south-eastern Karnataka and eastern Kerala.
[8] Details of the Surya Namaskar can be found on the web and in books.
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