Makar Sankranti

Categories:: Religious
Tags:: Hindu Historical Indian Holidays
Where:: India
Date change rule:: When the Sun enters the Capricorn zodiac (January 14 or 15)
Holiday emoji:: 🪁

Makar Sankranti brightens the calendar on January 14 or 15, marking the sun’s transition into Capricorn and the start of the harvest season. This vibrant Hindu festival is celebrated across India and beyond with kite flying, bonfires, and delicious traditional foods. Embrace the festive spirit by sharing a meal, flying a kite, or learning about its rich cultural heritage.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Observe
Related

Expected Makar Sankranti Deals

While specific 2027 promotions are anticipated, Makar Sankranti often sees cultural celebrations and special offerings. Look for deals on traditional sweets like ’til-gud’ from local Indian grocery stores and sweet shops. Online retailers like Amazon India and Flipkart may offer discounts on festive wear, home decor, and puja items. Travel agencies such as MakeMyTrip and Goibibo might feature special packages to pilgrimage sites or regions known for grand celebrations like Gujarat and Rajasthan. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January approaches.

Platform Guide for Makar Sankranti

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #MakarSankranti. Share vibrant photos of kite flying, traditional attire, and festive foods like ’til-gud’ ladoos.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #MakarSankranti. Film short videos of kite battles, traditional dances, or cooking tutorials for festive treats.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #MakarSankranti. Share community event details, family traditions, and stories behind your celebrations.

Makar Sankranti Hero

Surya Dev (The Sun God)

Surya Dev, the Hindu Sun God, is central to Makar Sankranti. The festival honors his transition into the Capricorn zodiac, symbolizing the end of winter and the dawn of longer days. As the giver of light and life, Surya is revered for prosperity and good health, making his celestial journey a pivotal moment for spiritual reflection and joyous celebration across India.

History of Makar Sankranti

This festival has been celebrated by Hindus since ancient times. Details of this festival are also mentioned in Hindu religious texts and documents.

According to one popular legend, this festival originated because people were celebrating a demon’s downfall. As the story goes, a particularly murderous demon named Sankarasur would torture and kill humans for no particular reason. Hearing this, a goddess named Sankranti came down to Earth and vanquished him. Ever since then, Hindus have held this festival in her name.

People also worship the Sun god, Surya, on this day since the sun has a lot to do with the changing season. From this day on, the sun starts moving northwards.

The festivities themselves have multiple traditions and legends attached to them. One main tradition centers around kite-flying under the sun. People believe this practice cleanses bodies of infections and germs after a long winter.

Traditional sweet dishes are consumed on this day, a tradition that also has a legend attached to it. Apparently, the Sun god Surya never quite got along with his son, Shani. On this day, however, they decide to let bygones be bygones, and Surya visits Shani’s home, carrying sweets as a mark of forgiveness. And so, Hindus eat and distribute sweets with loved ones.

Another tradition this festival is famous for — the spiritual element. People believe that holy waters — and a cleansing dip in them — are essential to Makar Sankranti celebrations. They visit holy rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna in India, on mass pilgrimages.

Across many parts of India, this season means the early stages of the agricultural cycle, when crops have been sown and the hard work in the fields is almost complete. Therefore, this time signifies a period of socializing and families enjoying each other’s company.

Makar Sankranti timeline

3000 B.C.

Cultivation of Sesame Seeds

This crop — which is used across India to prepare Sankranti sweets even today — starts being cultivated; it is planted around mid-November and harvested in April.

1500 B.C.

Aryans and their Celebrations

The Aryans celebrate this day as an auspicious day for festivities, probably because it marks the onset of the harvest season.

400 B.C.

Makar Sankranti Starts

The festival first starts being celebrated.

1500 A.D.

We Get a Date

The date is calculated, possibly using astronomy, mathematics, and astrology, and the festival is celebrated in January.

Makar Sankranti FAQs

When is Makar Sankranti?

In 2027, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Friday, January 15, a day when millions across India and beyond honor the sun’s northward journey. It’s a time for joyous gatherings and traditional rituals.

How is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

For 2027, the festival will again feature vibrant kite flying, bonfires, and community feasts. Many observe the day by donating to charity, taking holy dips, and exchanging ’til-gud’ as a symbol of unity and peace.

What is the significance of Makar Sankranti?

The festival in 2027 holds profound cultural and astronomical importance, as it’s one of the few Hindu festivals based on the solar calendar. It’s a period of thanksgiving for a good harvest and a time for spiritual cleansing and renewal.

Why is kite flying associated with Makar Sankranti?

In 2027, the tradition of flying kites continues, believed to expose people to the morning sun, which is considered beneficial for health. It’s also a way to celebrate the arrival of spring and the harvest season with exuberance.

How To Observe Makar Sankranti

Eat a sweet
Enjoy an Indian sweet if you can source one. Or go ahead and look up recipes for traditional Indian sweets like ‘tilgul’ and ‘pongal,’ or simply try out an Indian sweetener called jaggery.
Fly a kite
Grab a kite, grab your kids and family, and head out for a day in the sun. You can even hold a fun-spirited kite-flying competition to see who can fly kites the highest.
Have a fun time
Makar Sankranti is all about celebration. Celebration of the harvest, a celebration of life, a celebration of various religious deities. Have your own celebration — of life, friends, family, and good health. Get together with loved ones, dance, sing, and have a fun time.

5 Fun Facts About Makar Sankranti

What does the name mean?
Makar means 'Capricorn' and Sankranti is the movement of the sun from one zodiac sign to another; basically, this day marks the transition of the sun from Capricorn to another zodiac sign.
A gateway to paradise
Ancient tradition says people that die on this day go straight to paradise.
Major pilgrimage on this day
Every 12 years, the world’s biggest Hindu pilgrimage — the Maha Kumbh — starts on this day.
A new name for each region
Every state in India, and other countries, have their own name for this celebration — Makara Sankranti (Maharashtra, India), Pongal (Tamil Nadu, India), Bhogali Bihu and Magh Bihu (Assam, India), Songkran (Thailand), and Maghe Sankranti (Nepal).
Makar Sankranti is celebrated like Thanksgiving
Food, family, and giving thanks — this festival is another version of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Why Makar Sankranti is Important

We learn more about another culture
Learn about the food, customs, history, significance, and even how you can celebrate the holiday. While you explore, your mind and experiences become more diverse and open.
We get to spend time with family
Like many festivals around the globe, Makar Sankranti, too, is about loved ones, good food, and enjoyment. Who doesn't love that?
Diverse cultures with similar traditions
While the legends, stories, and even customs might seem very different at first glance, look closer to see the similarities with your own festivals and holidays. It brings a sense of wonder and unity at the same time.