The festival of Makar Sankranti is around the corner. It is a traditional festival of India that holds a lot of cultural and spiritual importance. The festival celebrates Surya’s transition into the Makara that is the Capricorn zodiac sign. It indicates the cold winter season has come to an end and the longer days have started. Uttarayani is another name for this festival. The festival symbolizes new beginnings and hope. It also indicates the new harvest season. People pray to various deities, including the Sun God, on this occasion. They express their gratitude to them for the prosperity and bountiful harvest.
Makar Sankranti marks the victory of light over darkness. People take part in various religious and cultural activities on this day. They include taking a bath in the sacred rivers for spiritual cleansing. Moreover, the festival helps promote positivity and forgiveness among people. It also fosters community, family bonding, and renewal of relationships among them.
Makar Sankranti marks the victory of light over darkness. People take part in various religious and cultural activities on this day. They include taking a bath in the sacred rivers for spiritual cleansing. Moreover, the festival helps promote positivity and forgiveness among people. It also fosters community, family bonding, and renewal of relationships among them.
When is Makar Sankranti in 2026 in the Upcoming Year?
The Makar Sankranti festival will take place on 14 January 2026. The day is Wednesday. On this day, the sun will enter Makar, which is the Capricorn zodiac sign. Therefore, it is an auspicious day for performing various religious rituals like taking a bath and making a donation. They should be performed in the afternoon and evening.
What is the History Behind the Makar Sakranti Celebration?
The Makar Sankranti festival has enriched mythology and history. It celebrates the sun’s journey towards the north and into the Makar or Capricorn zodiac sign. Uttarayan is another name for the Makar Sankranti festival. This signifies the end of the winter season and the beginning of the harvest season. It also marks the beginning of the spring season. The festival symbolizes new beginnings. Moreover, it marks the victory of light over darkness.
Moreover, the Makar Sankranti festival embodies gratitude to Surya Dev for abundance and life.
Mythology of The Makar Sankranti Festival
The festival Makar Sankranti has enriched mythology. Various Gods and deities are associated with it.
Surya (Sun God)
He is the main deity representing light, energy, and new beginnings. His journey into Makara symbolizes the start of longer days (Uttarayan).
According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Surya visited his son, Lord Shani, the ruler of Capricorn, on this day. Therefore, this festival symbolizes reconciliation between father and son.
Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi
People worship Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi for fortune, wealth, and general well-being on Makar Sankranti. Their worship is often connected with a bountiful harvest. The festival also relates to Lord Vishnu who defeated demons like Sankarasura. Therefore, it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna also finds a mention in the Bhagavad Gita about Uttarayan.
Ganga River
People take a holy dip in the Ganga River on the occasion of Makar Sankranti as it is considered highly auspicious. People believe that taking a dip in the holy river cleanses their sins and washes away their bad karma. Moreover, it grants moksha or salvation and connects people to divine energy. As Ganga water holds special healing and purifying powers on this day, it marks a fresh start as the sun enters Capricorn.
Saraswati
In some regions of India, Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, is also honored.
Bhishma Pitamah
The scripture Mahabharata mentions that Bhishma Pitamah chose to leave his mortal body on this day. He waited for Uttarayan for a blessed departure.
Cultural Importance of Makar Sankranti Festival
Celebrating the Makar Sankranti festival is an inherent part of the culture of people living in various parts of India. They celebrate it by following their own customs, traditions, and festivities that vary from one cultural region to another. But what is common among these traditions is that people celebrate the festival by worshipping their deities. Moreover, they celebrate it by sharing joys, exchanging happy Makar Sankranti wishes, and preparing and consuming special sweets.
Makar Sankranti festival has immense cultural and religious importance. It includes the following things.
Harvest
As it is a prominent harvest festival, farmers offer thanks to God and the deities for the bounty. Moreover, they pray for future prosperity.
Spiritual Purification
People take a holy dip in sacred rivers. The river Ganges is the holiest among them. It is believed that taking a dip in the rivers gets rid of sins. Moreover, it helps foster spiritual renewal among devotees.
Unity and Goodwill
The exchange of special sweets made from sesame, jaggery, etc., symbolizes unity and love. Moreover, they help spread joy among people.
End of Winter
Natural transition marks the festival. Therefore, people celebrate the shift from cold and dark days to warmer and longer days.
How is Makar Sankranti Festival Celebrated In Various Regions of India?
The customs and traditions vary in various geographical areas of India for celebrating the festival of Makar Sankranti.
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
The people of these northern states celebrate Makar Sankranti in the form of the Khichdi Festival. They take holy dips in the Ganga River. Moreover, they cook and share Khichdi, which is also known as Dahi Chura.
Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh
The people of these states celebrate this festival as Makar Sankranti or Maghi. They also celebrate Lohri, which falls one day before Makar Sankranti to welcome spring. They light up bonfires, sing, dance, and distribute special sweets on the occasions of Lohri and Maghi.
Uttarakhand
Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Uttarayani in Uttarakhand. People take dips in the rivers. They also take part in fairs like Magh Mela.
Rajasthan
People of Rajasthan celebrate Makar Sankranti with tremendous religious fervour and excitement. They honor the sun for its generosity and bounty. People take a bath in holy rivers in spiritual places. Women in some communities give household articles like food or makeup as gifts to other married women.
Families and friends gather on the roof and terraces and fly kites together. The kites are made from different colors, shapes, and sizes. The food items prepared for Makar Sankranti include til laddoos, moongphali, gajak, dal pakodi, and gajar ka halwa.
How is Makar Sankranti Celebrated in Western and Southern India?
Maharashtra
The people of the state celebrate Makar Sankranti with a lot of religious fervour. It stretches over three days. They perform cleaning in their houses. They also wear new clothes on this occasion. Moreover, they invite family members and friends to their house. They create special delicacies like pooran poli and til-gul laddoo, and halwa.
Goa
The festival of Makar Sankranti is called Sakrant in the region of Goa. People worship Goddess Lakshmi. Women also participate in the haldi-kumkum festival. Here, they apply sacred powders on the foreheads of each other. People prepare delicacies from rice, jaggery, chana dal, and coconut.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
The people in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana celebrate the festival of Makar Sankranti. It takes place for four days. They wear new clothes on this occasion. Moreover, they express their thanks to Surya for the rich harvest. Furthermore, they indulge in feasting. They also prepare delicacies for the occasion. The delicacies include poornalu and chakkara pongal. Moreover, they include kheer prepared from rice and appalu.
How Can You Celebrate the Upcoming Festival of Makar Sankranti?
There are many exciting ways to celebrate this festival, which is just around the corner. Some of them include praying to revered deities. They also include preparing and exchanging delicacies. Flying kites, singing, and dancing are other ways of celebration. One other way is to buy captivating and exquisitely carved paintings and idols of Hindu deities from Cottage9. You can present them as gifts to your family members, friends, and others as a part of Happy Makar Sankranti 2026 wishes.
Conclusion
Makar Sankranti Festival is an integral part of the social, cultural, and religious life of people of various parts of India. This is the time people worship their Gods and deities. Moreover, they perform various religious and cultural activities, share joys, and celebrate the occasion with their loved ones. The festival is marked with the celebration of gratitude and a rich harvest. It helps keep alive the ancient traditions. Furthermore, it helps connect people from different social, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds into bonds of togetherness and unity.
