When the Sun Moves North: Things to Do on Makar Sankranti 2026

Aye dheel de dheel dede re bhaiya, us patang ko dheel de…

Kites fill the sky, people wear bright clothes, and kids munch on tilgul. Someone shouts, a kite has fallen! Kids run after it, laughing and tangling strings. There’s a happy chaos in the air, a festival celebrated with the same joy for generations.

Mid-January feels magical. The sun is warmer, mornings longer, and India looks up, toward the sky, rivers, and little bonfires. Makar Sankranti isn’t the same everywhere; foods, songs, and traditions change as you move across the country. Travelers don’t just see one festival, they collect many little versions. And yes, there are endless things to do on Makar Sankranti, depending on where the road takes you.

So jump on those best flight deals online, grab a window seat, and chase the sun as India kicks off 2026 with kites, bonfires, and sugar-sweet traditions.

Why the Festival Exists (and Why Everyone’s Outside)

Before the regional flavors kick in, here’s the core. Why Makar Sankranti is celebrated goes back centuries – at least to the 4th century CE – marking the sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makar) and the start of Uttarayan. Longer days. New energy. Fresh harvests. It’s one of the few Indian festivals tied directly to astronomy, which explains why mornings start early and end with full stomachs.

1. Kites, Competition & Rooftop Chaos

If someone asks Makar Sankranti festival is celebrated in which state, Gujarat practically raises its hand first. Here, Sankranti equals Uttarayan, and the sky becomes a battleground. Rooftops fill before breakfast. Kites slice, strings snap, and strangers cheer for strangers. Fun, noisy, and completely addictive, these Makar Sankranti activities for the family keep everyone smiling, generation after generation.

Also Read: Celebrate Uttarayan: Where to Enjoy Makar Sankranti 2026 in Style

2. Sharing Sweets and Softer Words

In Maharashtra, the festival softens. Homes exchange tilgul laddoos with the popular line encouraging sweet speech – “Tilgul ghya god-god bola”. Women wear black saris perform Haldi-Kunku. This is where some of the most auspicious things to do on Makar Sankranti happen quietly, offering sesame, sharing food, and fixing relationships with sugar and intention.

3. Holy Bath, Quiet Prayers, Hot Food

This is the time for reflection, gratitude, and peaceful beginnings. Sacred spots like Ganga Sagar in West Bengal, the Godavari in Nashik, the Ganga in Varanasi, and many other rivers across the country draw pilgrims for early-morning dips.

If you want to explore more spiritual places throughout the year, all-inclusive India tour packages make planning easy, taking care of transport, stays, meals, and more.

4. Warm Fires on Cold January Nights

Up north, Sankranti overlaps with Lohri. Bonfires crackle at night. Peanuts, popcorn, and jaggery fly into flames. Folk songs echo. It’s loud warmth against winter cold, and no one’s pretending it’s subtle. If you’re searching for the best deals on hotel bookings online, choose a winter stay that actually feels like home during Sankranti.

5. A Festival That Starts in the Kitchen

Down south, Sankranti becomes Pongal, a four-day harvest celebration. Fresh rice boils over (on purpose), sugarcane crunches loudly, and homes smell like warm milk and jaggery. In places like Odisha, khichdi simmers in giant pots, served steaming hot after freezing water rituals. Sweet, simple food meets deep tradition, classic Sankranti balance.

Also Read: Taste the Streets with These Iconic Indian Food Destinations

6. Before Sankranti Comes Bhogi Night

The night before Sankranti, Bhogi bonfires burn old items, symbolic decluttering before harvest celebrations. Doorways bloom with rangoli. Kites come later, but the mornings belong to rituals, prayers, and food that stays with you for the rest of the year.

Sankranti Beyond India

India welcomes the season with Makar Sankranti, Lohri, and Pongal and the celebration doesn’t stop at the border. Nepal marks Maghe Sankranti, Bangladesh lights up Shakrain, and Southeast Asia joins in with Thingyan and Moha Sangkran. For anyone tempted to follow the festival trail, online visa services for 180+ countries make hopping across surprisingly simple.

Here’s a quick look at festivals around the world that, like Makar Sankranti, celebrate the sun’s movement, seasonal change, and fresh beginnings – each in its own unique way.

Country	Festival Name	When It’s Celebrated	How It’s Celebrated
Nepal	Maghe Sankranti	Mid-January	Ritual river baths, sesame and jaggery foods, prayers for health and new beginnings
Bangladesh	Shakrain	Mid-January	Rooftop kite flying, street celebrations, music, shared meals
Thailand	Songkran	Mid-April	Water splashing, temple visits, family blessings, solar new year rituals
Cambodia	Moha Sangkran	Mid-April	Family meals, warm foods like rice dumplings, and seasonal balance rituals
Laos	Pi Mai (Ma Lao)	Mid-April	Water rituals, house cleaning, prayers, renewal celebrations
Myanmar	Thingyan	Mid-April	Water festivals, charity, temple visits, public celebrations
China	Dongzhi Festival	Late December	Family meals, warm foods like rice dumplings, seasonal balance rituals
Peru	Inti Raymi	Late June	Ceremonial dance

Ending On A Sweet Note

Whether you’re basking on a rooftop, giggling over a spilled plate of dahi chiwda, or just staring at a horizon bursting with kites, Makar Sankranti is loud, warm, messy and totally joyful. The traditions won’t change, but things to do on Makar Sankranti 2026 might include rooftop cafés, guided kite walks, and curated food trails. Still, the heart stays the same: wake early. Eat warm. Look up. Share sweetness. That’s really the vibe anywhere in India, no matter where you find yourself celebrating.

Now it’s your turn, spill the beans! How do you celebrate Makar Sankranti? Family rituals, local quirks, secret snacks, whatever makes it yours. We’ll try to share it with fellow travelers and keep the festive fun rolling.

FAQs – Things To Do On Makar Sankranti

What do you do on Makar Sankranti?
On Makar Sankranti, people usually wake up early for a ritual bath, offer water to the Sun God, and spend the day flying kites and sharing festive treats with loved ones. It is also a significant time for charity, where devotees donate essentials to the needy.

What are the 14 things to donate on Makar Sankranti?
Traditionally, people donate a set of 14 items, which often includes sesame seeds (til), jaggery, blankets, warm clothes, food grains, utensils, oil, ghee, gold, silver, cows (or fodder), new vessels, salt, and medicines.

What should we not do on Sankranti?
Avoid consuming alcohol, meat, or tamasic foods like onion and garlic, and try not to use harsh language or get into arguments. It is also considered inauspicious to cut trees, sleep late into the morning, or eat before taking your ritual bath.

What is the special activity of Sankranti?
The most iconic activity is kite flying, filling the sky with color and symbolizing higher aspirations. People also share sesame-jaggery sweets, light bonfires, and make small donations.

Which color to wear on Makar Sankranti?
In most places, including Maharashtra, it is customary to wear black because it helps in absorbing heat and keep the body warm during the winter. However, bright and auspicious colors like yellow, green, or white are also popular choices.

What food is eaten at Makar Sankranti?
The festival is famous for Til-Gud laddoos (sesame and jaggery sweets), which symbolize sweetness in relationships, and Khichdi, a comforting rice and lentil dish. Other regional favorites include Pongal in the South, Undhiyu in Gujarat, and various types of Pitha in West Bengal.

Keep Reading:

Cheapest International Destinations in 2026 That Make Your Money Feel Lucky
Indian Railways Fare Hike: What Train Travel in India Feels Like Right Now
Places to Travel for Food Lovers in 2026 With Zero Diet Plans

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