Makar Sankaranti 2023: When is it and where to celebrate

Makar Sankaranti is one of the few festivals that is celebrated across the country with great bonhomie and fanfare.
The festival is known by different names -- Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu, Maghi Sankrant, Makaravilakku and Pongal across the country. The festival is dedicated to worshipping Sun God and marks the beginning of the harvest season.

It is an important Hindu festival and celebrates the sun's journey back into the northern hemisphere. Makar Sankranti marks the first day when the sun is transiting into Capricorn, also known as Makara in Hindi. It also marks the end of the month of the winter solstice and when the days begin to get longer and the warmth returns.


The festival is organised to celebrate the ripening of winter crops as well as the start of a new harvesting season. Families, neighbours and friends come togather to celebrate the festival with traditional food, songs and dance.

When is Makar Sankaranti in 2023:
Generally Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 14 across the country. But this year there is a confusion whether Makar Sankranti is on January 14 or 15. As per Panchang, the Sankranti will take place on Sunday, January 15, 2023.

How and where to celebrate Makar Sankranti
People worship the sun god, Surya, by going to temples and taking a bath in the Ganges River. On this day, people also often eat sweets made of jaggery and sesame and participate in the kite festival.

• You can visit the International Kite Festival in Gujarat.
• Visit the Ganga Sagar Mela in West Bengal.
• Watch the Jallikatu ritual in Tamil Nadu, where participants attempt to jump onto the back of a running bull.
• Visist Sabarimala temple in Kerala to celebrate the Makaravilakku an annual festival held on Makarasankranthi day. It is believed, that a light will appear in the sky on Makaravilakku day and people wait for this light before darshan.