Makar Sankranti

About

Makar Sankranti is one of the few Hindu festivals set by the Sun rather than the Moon. Sankranti = the Sun's passage from one zodiac sign (rashi) to the next. On Makar Sankranti the Sun enters Makara, the sign of Capricorn in the sidereal zodiac.

Because it follows the solar year, the festival falls on almost the same date every year, around January 14 or 15. The exact day depends on the moment of transit, and in some years the punya kaal (the auspicious window for charity and bathing) runs into the next morning.

From this day the Sun begins its northward journey, called Uttarayana. Days slowly grow longer and warmer. The period before it, when the Sun is in Dhanu, is called Kharmas, during which many families avoid new beginnings.

Significance and stories

Uttarayana is described in the scriptures as a time of light and clarity. In the Mahabharata, the elder Bhishma waited on his bed of arrows for Uttarayana before leaving his body, which is why the season is linked with auspicious passing and spiritual progress.

Another well-loved account tells that Surya visits his son Shani (Saturn), who rules Makara. The visit stands for reconciliation between father and son and for setting aside old grievances.

The Ganga is said to have followed Bhagiratha and reached the ocean at Gangasagar on this day, so a large fair is held there. In Maharashtra the saying til gul ghya, god god bola means "take sesame and jaggery, and speak sweetly", a reminder to leave resentment behind.

At its heart the day is one of thanksgiving to the Sun, to the land, and to the cattle and farmers who bring in the winter harvest.

How to observe (puja vidhi)

Customs differ by region and family. This is a simple home outline.

1. Wake early and bathe, ideally with a few drops of Ganga jal or sesame seeds in the water if you cannot bathe in a river.
2. Wearing clean clothes, stand facing east and offer water (arghya) to the rising Sun from a copper or clean vessel, with red flowers or red sandal paste if you have them.
3. Recite a Surya mantra or the Gayatri mantra quietly. Ask a priest or elder to guide pronunciation.
4. Light a lamp and offer sesame, jaggery and rice to Surya and your family deity.
5. Give daan (charity) according to your means: sesame, jaggery, blankets, grains, or a meal for someone in need. Khichdi is traditionally given in many places.
6. Share til-gud or sweets with family and neighbours, and eat the festival meal together.

Puja items (samagri)

• A copper lota or clean vessel for offering water
• Red flowers, red sandal or kumkum
• Black and white sesame seeds (til)
• Jaggery (gur), and sweets made from sesame and jaggery
• Rice, moong dal and ghee for khichdi
• A diya, ghee or oil, incense
• Items for charity: warm clothes, blankets, grain

Fasting and food

Makar Sankranti is mainly a day of feasting rather than fasting. Foods are warming and made from the new harvest: til laddu, chikki, khichdi with ghee, pongal, puran poli, and sweet potato or sugarcane preparations.

Some families eat only after bathing and offering water to the Sun. If you choose to keep a light fast until the Surya puja is done, people with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may eat normally.

Regional customs

• Punjab and North India: Lohri is celebrated the evening before with a bonfire (see Lohri). Maghi follows the next day, with a holy dip and khichdi.
• Tamil Nadu: Thai Pongal, a four-day harvest festival where rice is boiled over until it spills, with cries of "Pongalo Pongal". See Pongal.
• Gujarat and Rajasthan: Uttarayan, famous for kite flying, with undhiyu and chikki.
• Maharashtra and Karnataka: Til-gul exchanged with the saying about sweet speech. In Karnataka, Ellu Bella is shared.
• Assam: Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) with community feasts and bonfires. See Bihu.
• Bihar and Uttar Pradesh: Dahi-chura and khichdi, with holy dips at Prayagraj during Magha Mela.
• Kerala: The Sabarimala Makara Jyothi is observed around this time.

Traditions vary; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.

Celebrating in the USA

The festival falls on a weekday in many years. You can offer water to the Sun from a balcony or backyard before work, and do the rest of the puja in the evening.

Til, jaggery and moong dal are available at Indian grocery stores, and many sell ready-made til laddu and chikki. Local temples and community groups often hold a Sankranti or Pongal event on the nearest weekend.

Kite flying is welcome at open parks, but check local rules, avoid areas near power lines and airports, and use plain cotton string. If you cannot reach a river, a bath at home with a little sesame in the water is accepted. Charity can be a donation to a food bank or a warm clothing drive.