Makar Sankranti 2025, a significant Hindu festival, is celebrated across India on January 14, 2025, marking the commencement of the harvest season. This festival, also referred to as the harvest festival, symbolizes bidding adieu to winter’s chill.
Uttarayan, a term used to describe the event, highlights the lengthening of days as the Sun moves northward, signifying auspiciousness. Makar Sankranti is observed based on the lunar calendar, consistently falling on nearly the same day each year.
Makar Sankranti 2025
Makar Sankranti 2025 is an annual celebration that symbolizes the start of the harvest season and the sun’s shift into Capricorn, marking the onset of warmer days and the end of chilly weather. Following Makar Sankranti, the days gradually become longer, extending over the next six months in a phase known as Uttarayan.
Among the 12 Sankranti occurring each year, Makar Sankranti holds the utmost significance as it signifies the sun’s movement.
The joyous harvest festival is celebrated with fervor throughout India, marked by various rituals and names depending on the region. Known as Pousha Sankranti in West Bengal, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Uttarayan in Gujarat, and Lohri in Punjab, among others, the festivities unite the country.
Makar Sankranti signifies a time for letting go of the old and welcoming the new, symbolizing a year filled with success, good fortune, and prosperity. The celebrations commence with thorough house cleaning, an early morning bath, and adorning traditional attire. Both Lord Indra, the God of rains, and Lord Surya are worshipped to seek blessings for a bountiful harvest and happiness in the upcoming year.
The day is packed with enjoyable activities, including kite-flying and indulging in traditional foods like khichdi and dahi-chooda. Makar Sankranti’s culinary delights feature dishes made from rice, jaggery, sugarcane, sesame seeds, maize, and peanuts. Gud Ki Chikki, popcorn, Til Kut, khichdi, undhiyu, and gud kheer are some of the traditional treats enjoyed during this festive occasion.
Makar Sankranti 2025 Date and Time
The first festival of the year, Makar Sankranti, will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14 with great enthusiasm across India. The festival’s timings are determined using the Drik Panchang, a trusted Hindu calendar.
On this day, the Punya Kaal (auspicious period) will last for 8 hours and 43 minutes, from 9:03 AM to 5:46 PM, making it an ideal time for prayers and offerings to the Sun God. For heightened spiritual benefits, the Maha Punya Kaal (most auspicious period) will occur between 9:03 AM and 10:48 AM.
| Occasion | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti Begins | 9:03 AM, January 14 |
| Punya Kaal | 9:03 AM to 5:46 PM |
| Maha Punya Kaal | 9:03 AM to 10:48 AM |
Makar Sankranti 2025 History and Significance
Makar Sankranti 2025 has a rich historical background, tracing its roots to ancient times, emphasizing the significance of agriculture in the country. This period marks the sun’s journey towards the north, symbolizing warmer and auspicious times ahead. Hindus participate in the tradition of taking a holy dip in rivers like Ganga and Yamuna, and every 12 years, the grand Kumbh Mela is organized.
In Hindu belief, it is thought that those who pass away during the auspicious Uttarayan period attain salvation from the cycle of death and rebirth. Bhishma Pitamah, wounded in the epic battle of Kurukshetra, strategically chose the moment of his death due to a boon from his father, delaying his last moments on earth to coincide with the Uttarayan period.
Makar Sankranti 2025 is also linked to the birth of the deity ‘Narashansa,’ the first preceptor of righteousness in Kaliyuga and a precursor to Kalki, the final avatar of Lord Vishnu. Additionally, the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil, commemorating Lord Vishnu’s victory over the demon Sankarasura on this auspicious day.
Makar Sankranti 2025 Rituals
During this sacred occasion, devotees participate in a variety of spiritual practices:
Holy Bath: Taking a dip in holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, or Godavari is believed to cleanse sins and purify the soul.
Offering Prayers: Worshippers pray to Lord Surya (the Sun God) to seek blessings for prosperity and well-being.
Special Dishes: Devotees prepare traditional dishes such as til laddoo (sesame seed sweets), khichdi, and Pongal as offerings to the Sun God as a gesture of gratitude.
Charity: Giving donations of money, clothes, or food to those in need during the auspicious period (Punya Kaal) is considered highly virtuous.
Breaking the Fast (Parana): Those who observe fasts during this time break them during the Punya Kaal Muhurta as part of the rituals.
This blend of devotion, charity, and traditional practices reflects the spiritual essence of the occasion.
Makar Sankranti 2025 Celebrations
Makar Sankranti is a joyous festival celebrated for 2-4 days in various parts of the country. The festivities include lighting bonfires, preparing delicious rice and sugarcane dishes, and engaging in music and dance activities. These rituals are shared among many cultures.
In Gujarat, Makar Sankranti, known as Uttarayan, is famous for its tradition of kite-flying. People gather on terraces for exciting kite-flying contests, creating a mesmerizing sky adorned with vibrant kites.
In Punjab, Lohri celebrations involve lighting bonfires to combat the cold. The warmth of these festivities extends as friends and family exchange gifts, savor gajaks, peanuts, revdi, and popcorn, all while singing traditional folk songs like Sundari Mundari Ho.
South India celebrates Pongal over four days. The custom of Bhogi Mantalu involves cleaning and decorating homes, followed by burning unwanted items in bonfires. Families then engage in Pongal Panai, cooking rice, milk, and jaggery in an earthen pot until it overflows, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
Throughout the country, diverse rituals and celebrations mark this harvest festival, promising brighter and happier days ahead.
Popular Foods on Makar Sankranti 2025
Makar Sankranti is celebrated with a variety of delicious treats made from sesame seeds (til) and jaggery. In southern states like Tamil Nadu, the festival is known as Pongal. The highlight of the celebration is the dish Pongal, prepared using freshly harvested rice, lentils, and jaggery.
In Maharashtra, puran poli, a sweet flatbread filled with a flavorful moong dal mixture, is a festive favorite often served for breakfast. These regional delicacies add a unique flavor to the vibrant festivities of Makar Sankranti.
| Related Links | |
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| Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2025 | World Hindi Day 2025 |
| National Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2025 | Lal Bahadur Shastri Death Anniversary 2025 |
| Lohri 2025 | National Youth Day 2025 |
Makar Sankranti 2025 FAQs
Q.1. When is Makar Sankranti 2025 celebrated?
Ans. Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 14, 2025, marking the start of the harvest season.
Q.2. What are the significant activities during Makar Sankranti?
Ans. Festivities include kite-flying, bonfires, traditional food indulgence, and cultural rituals shared across India.
Q.3. Why is Makar Sankranti considered auspicious?
Ans. It symbolizes the sun’s shift into Capricorn, promising warmer days and the triumph of good over evil.
Q.4. What are the traditional dishes enjoyed during Makar Sankranti?
Ans. Delight in festive treats like Gud Ki Chikki, popcorn, Til Kut, khichdi, undhiyu, and gud kheer made from rice, jaggery, and more.
Q.5. What is the historical significance of Makar Sankranti?
Ans. Trace its roots to ancient times, emphasizing agriculture, with rituals like holy dips, Kumbh Mela, and links to Hindu mythology.
