New Delhi | January 13, 2026

As India reaches the heart of January, an ancient celestial shift unfolds quietly in the skies. Makar Sankranti, observed every year around January 14 or 15, marks the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara) and the beginning of its northward movement, known as Uttarayan. This astronomical event has been revered for centuries as a turning point in time, symbolizing the gradual return of longer days, warmth, and renewed life in nature.

Unlike most Hindu festivals that follow the lunar calendar, Makar Sankranti is based on the solar cycle, giving it a fixed place in the year. Traditionally, people observed that after this transition, the harshness of winter slowly fades. Crops begin to mature, rivers flow more freely, animals become more active, and the human body starts emerging from seasonal fatigue. To support this shift, communities consume warming and nourishing foods such as sesame seeds, jaggery, ghee, grains, and khichdi—considered not just festive delicacies but forms of seasonal wisdom rooted in health and experience.

Culturally, the festival represents gratitude, renewal, and social harmony. Across regions, people offer prayers to the Sun, engage in charity, and step outdoors to celebrate the changing season. Kite-flying, a popular tradition in many states, symbolically encourages people to embrace sunlight and mark the Sun’s ascent. Makar Sankranti is celebrated under different names—Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, Uttarayan in Gujarat, and Lohri in Punjab—each reflecting local customs while sharing the same spiritual foundation.

The festival also ushers in the sacred Hindu lunar month of Maagh, regarded as a highly auspicious period dedicated to purification, discipline, and inner growth. Ancient scriptures describe this time as especially conducive to prayer, meditation, charity, fasting, and holy river baths such as Maagh Snaan. Makar Sankranti marks the external solar transition, while the month of Maagh sustains the inner spiritual journey, reinforcing ethical living and self-restraint. This belief is deeply reflected in the Mahabharata, where Bhishma—blessed with the power to choose the time of his death—waited on a bed of arrows until Uttarayan began during Maagh, choosing a moment symbolizing light, ascent, and liberation.

Makar Sankranti thus stands as more than a festival—it is a reminder that time is not merely counted but experienced. It reflects how traditional Indian knowledge systems seamlessly connected astronomy, agriculture, health, spirituality, and culture. Even today, as millions across the country observe the day with rituals, food, and celebration, Makar Sankranti continues to bridge scientific observation with social tradition, aligning the movement of the sky with the rhythm of life on earth.

Makar Sankranti: When the Sun Turns North and India Welcomes Renewal

Makar Sankranti marks a significant astronomical and cultural transition as the Sun enters the zodiac sign Capricorn, beginning its northward journey known as Uttarayan. Observed annually around January 14 or 15, the festival is based on the solar calendar and signals the gradual shift from intense winter toward longer days and renewed warmth across the country.

The change in season is deeply linked with nature and human life. As crops ripen and daily temperatures slowly rise, traditional food practices come into focus. Dishes prepared with sesame seeds, jaggery, ghee, and grains are widely consumed, reflecting age-old knowledge aimed at restoring energy and supporting digestion after the winter months.

Celebrated across India under different names—Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, Lohri in Punjab, and Uttarayan in Gujarat—the festival carries a shared message of gratitude, renewal, and social harmony. Rituals, charity, and kite-flying form an integral part of the celebrations, encouraging people to step into sunlight and welcome the seasonal shift.

Makar Sankranti also marks the beginning of the sacred month of Maagh, considered highly significant for spiritual discipline and purification. Ancient traditions, including the Mahabharata episode of Bhishma choosing Uttarayan for his departure, highlight the belief that this period represents light, ascent, and liberation, reinforcing the deep connection between cosmic movements and human values.