What is Makar Sankranti?
Makar Sankranti marks the day the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn) and begins its northward journey, called Uttarayan. Because it follows the solar calendar, it falls on 14 or 15 January almost every year.
One festival, many names
It is celebrated across India under different names: Uttarayan in Gujarat, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, Lohri in Punjab the night before, Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and Sankranti in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Kites and til-gud
The sky fills with kites in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and rooftops ring with shouts of "Kai po che!". Sweets made of sesame and jaggery are shared everywhere, and in Maharashtra people say "Tilgul ghya, god god bola" (take this sweet and speak sweetly). Millions also take a holy dip at Prayagraj and Gangasagar.