Places Celebrating Makar Sankranti in India

Every year in January, India experiences a surge of joyous celebration. The nation celebrates an end and a new beginning with Makar Sakranti, the Harvest Festival, in between yellow hues and the blue sky adorned with vibrant kites. India is home to many places celebrating Makar Sakranti with great joy.

Places celebrating  Makar Sakranti

One of the few holidays that is lavishly observed throughout India is Makar Sakranti. Have a look at the places celebrating Makar Sakranti;

kolkata, west bengal

The great Ganga Sagar Fair, which takes place in Kolkata every Makar Sankranti, is well known. Numerous thousands of worshippers gather here to bathe in the Ganges and offer prayers for a fruitful year. The largest pilgrimage fair in eastern India is held in the South 24 Parganas area. It is hosted in the southernmost point of Sagar Island and rivals the Prayagraj Kumbha Fair in splendor and size. Every Indian should attend the fair, which is celebrated with great fervor and festive splendor, at least once in their lifetime. Special sweets are prepared in almost all households called Pitha in the colloquial language. They are prepared mainly as rice dumplings stuffed with coconut mixed with jaggery.

Hyderabad, Telangana

Hyderabad, an urban metropolis, nonetheless has a lot of culture and history to offer! In this region of India, Makar Sankranti is a four-day celebration. The first day is Bhogi, which involves chanting and dancing around a campfire while old objects are burned. People dress in new clothes, paint their homes, create rangolis, and prepare Chakkara Pongal, a dish made of milk, rice, and jaggery, on the day of Sankranti. Cattle are exalted and commended for their role in producing goods. Some of the popular tourist destinations in Hyderabad are the Charminar, Ramoji Film City, Golconda Fort, Birla Mandir, Salar Jung Museum, and Chowmahalla Palace, to name a few.

Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Madurai tops the list when talking about places celebrating Makar Sankranti. In addition to being well renowned for the Meenakshi Aman temple, the historic Madurai is also well recognized for its Pongal celebrations during Makar Sankranti.

The Jallikattu, a traditional sport of taming the bull, is one of the main draws of the festival. People travel to the city from all around the country and state to watch this dangerous and unusual sport. It has a unique position in Tamil rituals and local heritage. It is more than just a sport to Tamilians; it also evokes feelings and sentiments.

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Makar Sankranti stands out among the several festivals that are observed throughout the year in Rajasthan. The state's vibrant festivals, particularly those in Jaipur, the capital city, draw a large number of visitors from throughout the world.

As the entire city comes to life and you can feel the fervor and energy wafting in the air, the good weather in January adds elegance to the celebrations. People fly vibrantly colored kites to commemorate the event, and you can see the sky changing into a kaleidoscope of hues as a result.

Gujarat, Ahmedabad

Gujarat hosts Uttarayan as part of its Makar Sankranti celebrations. Ahmedabad, which is referred regarded as the kite capital of Gujarat, attracts visitors each year for the International Kite Festival. The festival is hosted on a sizable field along the Sabarmati River. Numerous people travel to the streets of prominent ancient neighborhoods in Ahmedabad like Raipur Patang Bazaar and Jamalpur weeks before Uttarayan to purchase the best kites the city has to offer. A trip to Ahmedabad at this time of year is worthwhile because the sky is covered in strange kites of all shapes and sizes. Other Gujarati cities like Vadodara and Surat are renowned for hosting lively kite festivals.

Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Indians believe that bathing in the Ganges River's holy waters on Makar Sankranti is lucky. Every year, thousands of worshippers travel to Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri ghat to take a cool Ganges dip. On Makar Sankranti, a massive Ganga aarti is performed at dusk and is well-attended by tourists. When incense sticks are burning, Haridwar is enveloped in a fervor that is both sacred and joyous, providing an atmosphere that is unmatched. People congregate at their historic ghats to take the obligatory holy wash during Makar Sankranti celebrations in cities like Prayagraj and Varanasi.

Guwahati, Assam

On January 14th, Assam celebrates Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, one of the state's most well-known harvest festivities. In the Hindu calendar month of Magh, the event signifies the conclusion of the harvesting season. Additionally, the celebration marks the end of the winter solstice. Two days are spent in celebration of Magh Bihu. The first day is known as Uruka, and the second is known as Bhogali Bihu. The fresh harvest is celebrated by the community at feasts known as Bhuj. People dress in their finest traditional garb and lively fairs are hosted all throughout the city. Celebrations for Bhogali Bihu also include social gatherings and bonfires.

Mysore, Karnataka

Elu Bella can be obtained from friends and neighbors during Makar Sankranti, which the people of Mysore anxiously anticipate. Sesame, peanut, and jaggery are used to make the concoction known as Elu Bella. Every household makes its own special preparation of the mixture and serves it to its loved ones. Elu Bella is typically exchanged with friends and family and is typically enjoyed with Sakkara Achhu, a free sugar model. Karnataka residents worship bulls and cows at night. Married women distribute fruits, bangles, and other gifts when they visit their relatives.

Different states celebrate Makar Sakranti in different ways, and witnessing the festivities will undoubtedly leave you with lifelong memories. Therefore, make your travel arrangements and head to one of these places celebrating Makar Sakranti to experience the best Kite Festival celebrations in India.