pujas and observances
What is a Makar Sankranti puja and what rituals accompany the solar transition?
The solar moment behind the festival
Makar Sankranti marks the sun's entry into Makara rashi, the sign of Capricorn. In the tradition, this is seen as a turning point. The sun begins its northward journey, called Uttarayana, and the days grow longer. This shift is considered highly auspicious, and the tradition holds that good deeds, prayers, and charity done on this day carry special weight. The timing follows the actual solar position, which is why the date falls around the same point each year.
The puja and its offerings
The central act of worship is Surya puja, prayer offered to the sun god. Families offer water to the rising sun, often with sesame seeds mixed in. Sesame and jaggery, called til and gur, are central to the day. They are offered in the puja, shared with others, and eaten together. The tradition holds that sesame carries warmth and purity, fitting for the cold season and the sun's return. Tarpan, the offering of water to ancestors, is also performed by many families, making this a day that connects the living to those who have passed.
Sacred bathing
Bathing in a sacred river, called snan, is one of the most important acts of the day. At Prayagraj, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati are said to meet, enormous numbers of pilgrims gather to bathe at Makar Sankranti. The tradition holds that bathing at this confluence on this day cleanses accumulated karma. Many people bathe in whatever river or body of water is nearby if they cannot travel to a major pilgrimage site.
Regional names and forms
The festival is celebrated across India but looks different depending on where you are. In Tamil Nadu it is called Pongal, a four-day harvest celebration where a sweet rice dish is cooked and offered to the sun. In Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan it is called Uttarayan and is famous for kite flying, which fills the sky on this day. In Punjab it is Lohri, celebrated the night before. Each form carries the same core idea, gratitude for the harvest, reverence for the sun, and the hope that comes with longer days, but the customs, food, and mood differ widely.
How it is kept today
For many families, the day begins before sunrise with a bath and prayers. Til-gur sweets are made at home or bought and shared with neighbours and family. The saying that goes with sharing them, roughly meaning 'take sesame and jaggery and speak sweetly', is still repeated in Maharashtra. Diaspora communities often mark the day with community gatherings, shared food, and sometimes kite flying. The religious and the social sit comfortably side by side, and how much of each a family observes varies greatly.