Makar Sankranti and Lohri to Bhogali Bihu and Pongal: A glimpse into India’s myriad harvest festivals

Every January, Makar Sankranti is celebrated across India with great joy, reverence and enthusiasm. Known by different names and observed through a plethora of customs and religious rituals, Makar Sankranti is an important harvest festival marking the sun’s transition into Capricorn and the end of winter season. From Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Lohri in Punjab to Bhogali (Magh) Bihu in Assam and Uttarayan in Gujarat and Rajasthan, this festival begins the year on a vibrant note. Sankranti, therefore, symbolises renewal, abundance and gratitude. While the essence of the festival remains the same throughout the nation, every state and region celebrates it with a distinct name, flavour and cultural resonance. 

Here’s a glimpse into the various ways Makar Sankranti is celebrated across India:

Makara Sankranti or Suggi Habba

In Karnataka, the harvest season finds expression through Makara Sankranti, locally known as Suggi Habba. Celebrated as a thanksgiving festival, it is marked by the exchange of Ellu-Bella, a traditional mix of sesame seeds, jaggery, coconut, peanuts and sugarcane, symbolising prosperity, sharing and togetherness.

Pongal

Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, a four-day harvest festival that places gratitude at its heart. Homes are cleaned, colourful kolams adorn entrances and newly harvested rice is cooked with milk and jaggery until it overflows - symbolising abundance. The festival is deeply rooted in thanking the sun, cattle and mother nature for sustaining life and agriculture.

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Makar Sankranti

Moving westward, Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra is marked by the exchange of sesame and jaggery sweets, called Tilgul. The popular phrase ‘tilgul ghya, god god bola’ encourages harmony and sweetness in relationships. The ingredients themselves reflect the season, providing warmth during winter while also reinforcing the idea of sharing and goodwill.

Uttarayan

In Gujarat and Rajasthan, Makra Sankranti means transforming the sky into a vibrant spectacle. Called Uttarayan, it is the iconic kite-flying festival popular worldwide. Rooftops turn into hubs for community bonding, as families and friends come together to fly kites and enjoy local delicacies. Here, the festival resonates strongly with freedom, joy and collective celebration.

Lohri 

In Punjab and Haryana, the day before Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri, a festival centred around fire. Bonfires are lit to mark the end of winter, with people singing folk songs and offering sesame, peanuts and sugarcane to the flames. Lohri reflects the agrarian rhythm of the region, celebrating the rabi crop and the warmth of the community during the cold months.

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Poush Sankranti

Further east, West Bengal observes the festival as Poush Sankranti, known for its rich variety of rice-based sweets called pithe. The celebration is quieter yet deeply rooted in seasonal food traditions, highlighting the connection between local produce and cultural identity.

Bhogali Bihu

In Assam, Makar Sankranti is known as Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu. Meji (a bonfire) is lit as a ceremonial conclusion of the harvesting season, offering a prayer to the God of Fire. As the name suggests, the focus of Bhogali Bihu is on abundance, feasting and togetherness. People indulge in a variety of aromatic pithas (rice flour, sesame seeds and jaggery delicacies).