Makar Sankranti: Sun's Northern Journey

Makar Sankranti is unique among Indian festivals for being based on the solar calendar rather than the lunar one, which is why it falls on the same date (January 14 or 15) every year. It marks the sun's entry into Capricorn and the beginning of Uttarayan, the auspicious six-month period of the sun's northward movement. Celebrated under different names across India, it is fundamentally a harvest thanksgiving festival that brings people outdoors into the warm winter sun.

Astronomical Significance

Celebrations Across India

Kite Festival

Food and Holy Dips