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Makar Sankranti 2026 Date: On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the festival of Makar Sankranti will be celebrated across the country to commemorate the entry of the Sun into Capricorn. This is also called the beginning of Uttarayan, when the Sun moves towards the north. This festival is very important not only from the religious point of view, but also from the agricultural, social and cultural point of view. It is celebrated with different names, different traditions and different dishes in different states of India. Come, let us know how Makar Sankranti is celebrated in major states of India.

North India: Festival of Khichdi, Til-Jaggery and Kites

Uttar Pradesh: Bathing and donating in Ganga or other holy rivers on this day has special significance. Khichdi (rice and urad dal) is the main meal. Dishes made from sesame seeds and jaggery, such as sesame laddus, are eaten.

Bihar/Jharkhand: Here too, bathing and donating is important. There is a tradition of eating dahi-chuda and tilkut (dishes made from sesame seeds and jaggery).

Punjab/Haryana: Lohri, it is celebrated a day before Sankranti (13 January). At night, a bonfire is lit and rewari, peanuts and popcorn are added to it and worshipped. Mustard greens and corn bread are eaten on this day.

Delhi/Rajasthan: On this day of Uttarayan/Sankranti, dishes made of sesame and jaggery are distributed. Kite flying is organized on a large scale in many places, especially in Rajasthan.

Gujarat: It is known as 'Uttarayan' and it is a two-day festival. Uttarayan on 14th January and Vasi Uttarayan on 15th January. This festival is famous all over the world for the kite festival here.

Maharashtra/Goa: Here this festival is called 'Sankranti'. Married women organize 'Haldi-Kumkum' ceremony, where they give laddus of til-jaggery to each other and say, eat til-jaggery, say sweet-sweet

South India: Pongal celebration

Tamil Nadu: This is a four-day festival, which is called 'Pongal'.

Day 1 (Bhogi): Let's start something new by burning the old things.

Second day (Surya Pongal): On this day 'Chakrai Pongal' (jaggery and rice pudding) is offered to the Sun God.

Third day (Mattu Pongal): Animals are worshipped.

Fourth day (Kaanum Pongal): People go for a walk and meet relatives.

Andhra Pradesh/Telangana: It is called 'Sankranti' or 'Pedda Panduga' (big festival). Here too the festival is celebrated for four days, in which there is a trend of making traditional Muggulu (Rangoli) and wearing new clothes.

Karnataka/Kerala: This is called 'Sankranti'. In Karnataka, women offer Ellu Bela (a mixture of sesame, jaggery, peanuts and coconut) to each other. In Kerala, having darshan of 'Makaravilakku' (a divine light) at the Sabarimala temple has special significance.

West Bengal/Odisha: Here it is called 'Paush Sankranti'. A huge fair is organized in Bengal to take a dip in Gangasagar. On this day, there is a tradition of making pitha (sweet made from jaggery, coconut and rice flour) and kheer.

Therefore, Makar Sankranti is not just a religious festival, but it is a beautiful way of expressing gratitude towards nature, agriculture and mutual harmony in Indian culture. Despite different names and traditions in different states, the basic sentiment of Surya puja, bath-donation and sharing the sweetness of til-jaggery is the same everywhere.

Disclaimer: Information given in this news religious beliefs And general information Is based on. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.