Not even a fortnight into the New Year, and we’ve got a festival already! Makar Sankranti signifies the change in seasons as the weather shifts from winter to mild summer. Usually, when we mention Makar Sankranti, our minds immediately picture the colorful kites floating effortlessly in the sky. But there’s so little that we know about the reasoning behind the festival and how different places around India celebrate it.
For instance, did you know that Makar Sankranti is the only festival that’s based on the solar calendar and not the lunar one? Now you do! Also, India is so diverse; there are just so many ways in which this festival is celebrated. And what’s the best way to experience them? You visit them! So here are 6 places to celebrate Makar Sankranti in India!
Where To Celebrate Makar Sankranti In India
1. Maharashtra
The excitement of Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra is very evident a week before the actual dates of the festival. You’ll see shops displaying kites of different patterns, colors, and designs on display. People start stocking them and even flying them!
In Maharashtra, Makar Sankranti is a three-day affair. The first day is called ‘Bhogi’, and everyone prays to the Sun God for happiness and a prosperous year. The second day is for married women who celebrate ‘Haldi-Kumkum’. They all apply turmeric powder and vermilion to each other’s foreheads. The last day is for appreciating Devi, who slayed the asura Kinkarasur.
Walk past houses, and the aroma of puran poli and til-gul laddoos is sure to entice your senses. Not only are they delicious, but they’re healthy too! The same applies to kite flying. It might look like a fun activity, but the reason behind this is to get Vitamin D from the sun, as the rays are quite strong during this time.
Best Place In Maharashtra For Kite Flying: Mumbai
2. Gujarat
Also known as Uttrayan in Gujarat, on the day of Makar Sankranti, you’ll find the streets to be very empty. Where would the people be? Well, their rooftops, of course! You will actually feel the excitement building the night before the kite flying as people set their alarms for 5:00 am and kids get to bed early to wake up fresh the following morning.
Food such as undhiyo, surti jamun, and ladoos are prepared and kept to last the entire next day because practically everyone’s on the terraces. There are special kite markets set up before Uttarayan. In Ahmedabad, you can visit the Patang Bazaar, which is right in the heart of the city.
There are proper competitions held where people try to cut the kite string or manja of another person’s kite. Upon succeeding in that, you’ll often find them screaming: “Lapet kai po che” – which means the string has been cut.
The International Kite Festival takes all the hype during Makar Sankranti. It’s when people from all over the world gather in Ahmedabad with kites that represent their country. For instance, kite makers from Malaysia have brought their wau-balang kites, the Japanese rokkaku, and kite fliers from the USA have had their huge kite banners! All these different types of kites start soaring in the sky together a week before the festival.
Best Place In Gujarat For Kite Flying: Ahmedabad
3. Rajasthan
Just like all things royal in Rajasthan, even the Makar Sankranti here is a glorious event. The locals refer to the festival as Sakraat, and you’ll see how serious they are about the festival. The shops are shut down, schools are closed, and houses are prepared to paint the sky with colorful kites and the strongest kite strings. The biggest reason behind the anticipation for Makar Sankranti is that the winters here are harsh, and everyone wants to bask in the warm sunlight.
Dishes like pheeni, gajak, ghevar, and pakodi are made during the special occasion. People also typically hold prayers in their houses along with their families. Some people visit the holy water bodies closest to their house to take a dip and wash off all the negativity of the past. We don’t want to start the new year with bad energy now, do we? The newlyweds are invited to the bride’s parents’ house for a meal on the day of Makar Sankranti. This is done to signify and celebrate the first Sankrant of the newlyweds as a couple. This tradition is called Sankrant Bhoj.
The bigger cities in Rajasthan hold professional kite flying tournaments, and winners are awarded cash prizes. We told you! People in Rajasthan take their kite flying very seriously.
Best Place In Rajasthan For Kite Flying: Jaipur
4. Karnataka
Rajasthan and Karnataka celebrate Makar Sankranti for just one day. However, that’s where the similarities between the two states end. Makar Sankranti in Karnataka is much calmer and has a homely method of celebration.
You’ll find beautiful rangolis made out of rice flour that are decorated with mango leaves. The neighbors exchange sweets amongst each other, making the bonds stronger than ever. A striking custom that sets Karnataka’s Makar Sankranti apart from others is that newlyweds follow the tradition of giving banana leaves to other newlyweds for five years, increasing the number of leaves by five each year.
There’s a full menu set for the day. So, if you’re visiting Karnataka during Makar Sankranti, be prepared to have lemon rice, sweet Pongal, payasam (sweet pudding), ellu-bella (sesame seeds-jaggery), and vadas. Everything is prepared in large quantities, and families are invited to each other’s houses to share the meal and then enjoy kite flying later!
Best Place In Karnataka For Kite Flying: Gokarna
5. Goa
While Goa is mostly known for being a party paradise, Makar Sankranti in Goa is all about family! On the day of the festival, this state follows the tradition of offering five plates of food to the Gods. One plate is meant for God to feast. Two of them are for the crows because they’re considered to be ancestors in Indian culture. One plate is kept in all corners of the house to feed any negative spirits and ward them off, and one plate is meant to be shared by the family.
The festival of Sankrant ends on the day of ‘Ratha Saptami’ when a temple deity is taken around the village in a chariot. People join in this procession with folk songs and dances.
Just like their neighbors from Maharashtra and Karnataka, the folks in Goa also make it a point to spread sweetness with sweets. They also exchange sweets made out of jaggery and sesame seeds. In Goa, you’ll see delicacies made out of coconut, jaggery, Bengal gram (chana dal), and rice being made and shared with loved ones.
Best Place In Goa For Kite Flying: Panaji
6. Kerala
Out of all the places we’ve covered so far, Makar Sankranti in Kerala definitely stands out! To begin with, it’s called Makara Vilakku in this state and is celebrated at the Sabarimala Temple. Every year, thousands of devotees from all over the world congregate at this temple to pray to Lord Ayyappan.
The most significant event during Makar Sankranti in Kerala is the lighting of a diya thrice on the hill of Ponnambalamedu near Sabarimala. Known as Makaravilakku, devotees crowd the temple to witness this sight. It’s a magical experience, indeed!
Best Place In Kerala For Kite Flying: Kozhikode
Summing Up
Regardless of what part of the country you go to or what community you look at, you’ll see that Makar Sankranti is more about getting together with your family. It’s about spending time with dear ones and enjoying the traditions together. Similarly, regardless of what part of the country you’re in, if you walk around during this festival, you’ll be invited by somebody to celebrate with them. So, why not explore these 6 places during Makar Sankranti and experience the festival in a way like never before?
FAQs
When Is Makar Sankranti?
This festival does not have a decided date, but is decided according to the solar calendar. Since the solar calendar closely follows the Gregorian one, Makar Sankranti generally falls in the first half of January.
What Is Makar Sankranti Celebrated For?
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in order to signify the beginning of the harvest season in India. Makar Sankranti is the beginning of the sun’s, or Lord Surya’s, journey to the north. Also known as Uttarayan, this journey marks the end of winter and gives rise to longer and warmer days.
What Does The Word Sankranti Mean?
Sankranti is a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to the transmigration of the sun from one ‘rashi’ (moon placed sign) to the next.
What Is The Story Of Sankranti?
The story of Sankranti is that of Lord Surya and how he begins his journey to the north on this day, blessing everyone with happiness, warmth, and energy in the form of the Sun’s rays.
How Do We Observe Makar Sankranti?
One of the most common themes seen across all celebrations of Makar Sankranti is coming together with family, exchanging sweets and gifts, and flying kites together. Throughout the country, you’ll see some variations of a harvest festival, while the names may be different across states (Baisakhi in Punjab, Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Vasi Uttarayan in Gujarat, and Pousha Sankranti in West Bengal).
Where Is Makar Sankranti Most Celebrated In India?
In India, Gujarat celebrates Makar Sankranti with great fervour, especially in Ahmedabad. The city also holds the International Kite Festival, where kite fliers from around the world participate.
What Is Makar Sankranti Called In Kashmir?
In Kashmir, Makar Sankranti is known as Shishur Saenkraat.
