Makar Sankranti 2026: Lohri, Pongal, Uttarayan, and Magh Bihu; How India Celebrates the Harvest Festival

The first festival of 2026 is round the corner; Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on January 14, which is the beginning of the harvest season in India. Most Hindu festivals follow the lunar calendar, but Makar Sankranti is based on the solar cycle, which is why it falls on a fixed date. Even though the festival is observed across the country, it is known by different names in different regions, each with its own unique rituals and traditions, but they mostly carry the same significance.

Makar Sankranti in North India

In Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri, usually on the eve of Sankranti, i.e., it usually falls on Jan 13th. The Lohri festival is observed to celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of longer days. People gather around bonfires, offer bhog to Agni Dev (fire god), and sing and dance. The traditional foods enjoyed during Lohri include things like til-gud sweets, peanuts, revri, sarson da saag and makki di roti, etc. The following day is observed as Maghi in parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Devotees take holy baths, donate food and clothes, enjoy festive feasts, and participate in kite flying, symbolising joy and prosperity.

In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand, the festival is known as Khichdi Parv. Devotees offer khichdi to the Sun God; some even go for Ganga Snan, especially at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, and donate food items.

Uttarayan and Sakraat in Western and Central India

In Gujarat, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Uttarayan, which is one of the state's biggest festivals. The skies of Gujarat are filled with colourful kites during intense kite-flying battles, locally known as "sanjo". Traditional dishes during Uttarayan include undhiyu, jalebi, and sugarcane.
In Rajasthan and parts of Haryana, the festival is called Sakraat, during which people prepare bajra khichdi, ghevar, and sweets made of sesame and jaggery.

Pongal, Pedda Panduga and Suggi Habba in South India

In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal, which is a four-day harvest festival.

The first day is called Bhogi Pongal, the second day is Thai Pongal, the third day is Mattu Pongal, and the final day is called Pongal. On the days of the festival, homes are decorated with kolam, and dishes like ven pongal and sakkarai pongal are prepared.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the festival is known as Pedda Panduga or Sankranti, which is again observed over four days: Bhogi, Sankranti, Kanuma, and Mukkanuma.

In Karnataka, Makar Sankranti is called Suggi Habba or Makara Sankramana. A unique ritual here is ellu-bella, where people exchange a mix of sesame seeds, jaggery, coconut, and peanuts, wishing each other to "eat sweet and speak sweet."

Poush Sankranti and Magh Bihu in Eastern and Northeastern India

In West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam, the festival is celebrated as Poush Sankranti or Pusna. During the festival traditional dishes like pitha sweets are prepared; people also take holy baths and participate in the famous Ganga Sagar Mela.

In Assam, Makar Sankranti is known as Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, and the essence of the festival remains the same across India, that is, a deep gratitude for the new harvest, worshipping nature for food on our table and for new beginnings.