Quick start: 10 traditional ways to observe Sankranti
This section updates the main advice from the original page (daily rituals, worship of the sun, acts of kindness, til sweets, khichdi, family gatherings) while incorporating regional influences.
1) Begin with Surya gratitude
Get up early if you can. Give water (arghya) to the sun as it rises, pray for clarity, health, and positive energy, and carry that intention with you throughout the day.
2) Mantra, meditation, or quiet reflection
Some families choose to chant Gayatri or recite prayers, while others prefer meditation, using Sankranti as a yearly "reset" moment.
3) Remember ancestors (tarpan)
Certain customs involve making water offerings to ancestors and elders as a way to show appreciation for their values, education, and the preservation of family ties.
4) Give daan (donation)
Charity plays a vital role in providing essential items such as food, clothing, blankets in winter, and support to temples and community kitchens.
5) Prepare til sweets
Prepare til-gur sweets (tilgul, laddoo, chikki) to be offered at a shrine or temple as prasad, symbolizing the sweetness in communication and connections.
6) Cook a simple harvest meal
Khichdi, a combination of rice and lentils, paired with seasonal vegetables, is a staple in many areas, symbolizing simplicity, nourishment, and appreciation.
7) Visit family and elders
Traditional practices stress the importance of visiting both children and elders, exchanging gifts to strengthen family ties and uphold core values for future generations.
8) Celebrate outdoors
In various locations, individuals gather on rooftops or open fields to engage in activities such as flying kites, attending fairs, playing sports, and participating in community gatherings while enjoying the winter sun.
9) Holy dip (where applicable)
Certain communities participate in a sacred ritual of bathing in rivers or at pilgrimage sites, symbolizing purification and a fresh start.
10) Begin something auspicious
Sankranti is often regarded as an auspicious time for embarking on new endeavors such as learning, getting engaged/married, or initiating a strict routine.
Old tradition, modern meaning
These traditions blend spirituality with social responsibility by incorporating worship, expressing gratitude, sharing meals, and giving to those in need to maintain community resilience during the winter months.
Regional celebrations: what makes each unique
Sankranti season is like a single “festival window” with multiple cultural expressions. Here’s how the best-known traditions differ, including unique older customs that remain visible today.
Makar Sankranti (Makara Sankranti)
Core idea
The Sun's shift and bountiful thanks; a season for giving, devotion, and sharing in the community.
Old traditions
- Til-gur sweets exchanged to promote sweet speech and unity
- Khichdi and seasonal foods as “simple living” symbolism
- Visits to elders/children with gifts and blessings
- Daan of food and winter essentials
In numerous homes, Surya worship is intertwined with offering sweets, hosting guests, and participating in charitable acts within the community. Certain areas also incorporate fairs and river ceremonies into the festivities.
Uttarayan (Gujarat)
Signature tradition
Flying kites on rooftops turns neighborhoods into a community celebration with music, food, and a spirit of friendly competition.
Old customs
- Community rooftop gatherings (open houses for neighbors)
- Kite craft traditions (paper, bamboo, thread techniques)
- Seasonal foods carried to rooftops for sharing
- Music and collective chanting during peak kite hours
During Uttarayan, the sky becomes the festival's stage as we celebrate the radiant winter sun and the communal happiness of gathering outdoors.
Pongal (Tamil Nadu)
Four-day festival
Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal are celebrated with preparation, worship, honoring cattle, and family
Unique & old traditions
- Boiling-over Pongal pot ritual (symbol of abundance)
- Kolam (rice-flour designs) renewed daily
- Sugarcane as a signature harvest symbol
- Mattu Pongal: bathing, decorating, honoring cattle
Pongal is a celebration rooted in agriculture, giving thanks to the sun, nature, and the individuals and creatures that sustain farming communities.
Magh / Bhogali Bihu (Assam)
What stands out
A celebration of abundance following the harvest: Uruka night feasts and Meji bonfire at sunrise.
Unique & old traditions
- Bhelaghar huts built from bamboo and leaves
- Meji bonfire worship at dawn for blessings
- Community feasts that strengthen village ties
- Traditional games and local sports in some areas
Magh Bihu embodies a traditional harvest motif with its focus on plentiful food, communal unity, and warmth, most prominently showcased in rural Assam.
At a glance: rituals and symbols
| Festival | Key symbols | Signature practices |
|---|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti | Sun, sesame, jaggery, donation | Surya worship, til sweets exchange, charity, seasonal meals |
| Uttarayan | Kites, rooftops, winter sun | Kite flying, community rooftops, foods shared in groups |
| Pongal | Pongal pot, kolam, sugarcane, cattle | Surya Pongal offering, kolam, Mattu Pongal cattle honoring |
| Magh/Bhogali Bihu | Meji bonfire, Bhelaghar | Uruka feast night, dawn bonfire worship, community games |
Shared thread
In every area, the traditional core endures: appreciation for the harvest and sun, the act of sharing meals, and the strengthening of community ties.