Makar Sankranti 2025: How India Celebrates Uttarayan, Kite Festival, and Harvest Traditions
Makar Sankranti 2025, which will be celebrated on 14 January 2025, is one of the most vibrant and widely observed festivals in India. Known by different names across the country — Uttarayan in Gujarat, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab, and Magh Bihu in Assam — this day marks the movement of the sun into Capricorn (Makar Rashi). For millions, Makar Sankranti is not just about spirituality, but also about joy, harvest, food, and colorful kites flying high in the sky. From the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad to traditional bonfires in Punjab, Makar Sankranti brings India alive with unique regional flavors.
International Kite Festival - A fabulous story to cherish!
Grand celebrations to be held at the Sabarmati Riverfront.
India is a land of incredible festivals. Every year and almost every month millions of people gather to celebrate their culture and traditions. Patang-flying is one such occasion. It is celebrated across India in different forms, names and in different months. Here in Gujarat, Patang-flying is celebrated every year on the exact dates of January, i.e. 14th and 15th. And flying the strings of kites at the International Kite Festival is a memorable experience! This festival has a deep connection with the agriculture sector. It signals the end of winters and the beginning of the harvesting season.
The gaiety of International Kite Festival
Since 1989, the heart of Ahmedabad has been hosting the International Kite Festival, with master kite-flyers from across the country coming to Ahmedabad to experience the gaiety. This is the first celebration of the New Year season to experience the tale of a spectacular fun fair. It takes place at the grounds of the Sabarmati Riverfront. The scene is unreal and has an exuberant atmosphere to spend the holidays in the best way possible. It is a competition between kite flyers who hone the skills. The day begins with a parade of kite flyers, carrying with them the revered kites associated with their country and culture. The participants turn the sky into colorful hues by creating unique designs of art from varieties of kites. The area also has traditional and authentic Gujju food stalls that include Undhiyu, Jalebi, Chikki and many more. Moreover, even if you are not interested in kite flying then also this place is for you, as the list of things to do here is endless.
Celebrating Uttarayan at Sabarmati Riverfront – Bringing the world together
Sabarmati Riverfront becomes the center of attraction for people from all over the world to attend the kite festival celebrations. Interestingly, there are some Gujarati names associated with the kite flying festival such as 'Uttarayan' and 'Makar Sankranti'. These names signify the northward journey of the sun and the beginning of the transition from winter to summer season. During the International Kite Festival, one can also visit the Kite Museum at Sanskar Kendra located in the Paldi area of Ahmedabad. The festival also helps the city and citizens to develop economically. Additionally, the Sabarmati Riverfront has the capacity to accommodate around 500,000 people during the festival. The upcoming dates to experience the festival are from 8th to 14th January where you will get a chance to get acquainted with the vibrancy of the kite flying festival.
Illuminatus Evening at International Kite Festival
While talking about the International Kite Festival, the ambiance of the old city during this festival cannot be ignored as it reflects the true essence of the kite flying festival. There are centuries-old artisans who are in the business of kite making and its thread. Over generations, if one documents it well, they have a record breaking business! From dusk till dawn, the sky is seen filled with colourful artistic paper work in the form of rhombus shaped kites during the Kite Festival. And even the night is not the time to end the Festival as during the night the people of Gujarat are abuzz with white kites and 'tukaals' (illuminated kites). This adds to the beauty of the night sky, giving a sight that is a treat to the eyes. As people gather in groups on the rooftops, they enjoy the Festival to the fullest with high energy.
Uttarayan in Gujarat – The World-Famous Kite Festival
The festival of Uttarayan is a uniquely Gujarati phenomenon, when the skies over most cities of the state fill with kites from before dawn until well after dark. The festival marks the days in the Hindu calendar when winter begins turning to summer, known as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. On what is usually a bright warm sunny day with brisk breezes to lift the kites aloft, across the state almost all normal activity is shut down and everyone takes to the rooftops and roadways to fly kites and compete with their neighbors.
Kites of all shapes and sizes are flown, and the main competition is to battle nearby kite-flyers to cut their strings and bring down their kites. For this, people find their favored kite-makers who prepare strong resilient kite bodies with springy bamboo frames and kite-paper stretched to exactly the right tension. Lastly, the kites are attached to a spool (or firkin) of manja, special kite-string coated with a mixture of glue and glass to be as sharp as possible for cutting strings of rival kites. Production of kites and kite supplies can be seen on the streets of Ahmedabad beginning in November, to get ready for Uttarayan, and nowhere more so than in Patang Bazaar, the special kite market that appears in the old city. For the week preceding the festival, it is open 24 hours a day for all kite lovers to stock up for the festivities.
Parents who normally find their children hard to get out of bed for school will find them setting the alarm for 5 am on 14th Jan., to get up and start flying kites in the ideal pre-dawn wind. The atmosphere is wonderfully festive, as whole families gather on the rooftop, special foods like laddoos , undhyu or surati jamun are prepared for eating over the course of the day, and friends and neighbors visit each other for group kite-flying fun. Often people look out for which of their friends has the optimum terrace for kite flying and many will congregate there. This leads to many social gatherings that would not otherwise occur, as one person’s brother’s friends meet their classmate’s cousins, because they have all gathered on the rooftop of the same mutual friend. People often find themselves marking time by Uttarayans: “I met you three Uttarayans ago, right?” is a not uncommon phrase. At night, kite fighters send up bright white kites to be seen in the darkness, and skilled flyers will send aloft their tukkals with strings of brightly lit lanterns in a long line leading back down to the rooftop. From early morning to late at night, Uttarayan provides lots of fun and beautiful sights to remember for a long time.
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Why Gujarat is the heart of Makar Sankranti celebrations.
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Ahmedabad International Kite Festival: thousands of kites from India and abroad.
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Rooftop kite flying from dawn till dusk.
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Special foods: Undhiyu (seasonal vegetable dish) and Jalebi.
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Streets filled with music, laughter, and sky filled with colors.
Lohri in Punjab
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Celebrated a night before Makar Sankranti (13 January).
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Bonfire ritual, offering sesame, jaggery, and rewri.
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Farmers pray for prosperity and a good harvest.
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Singing and bhangra around the fire.
Pongal in Tamil Nadu
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Four-day festival (Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal).
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Worshipping the Sun God and thanking nature.
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Preparing “Pongal” dish from freshly harvested rice.
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Rural Tamil Nadu decorated with kolams (rangoli).
Magh Bihu in Assam
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Harvest festival in Assam.
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Community feasts, traditional games, and dances.
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Bonfires called “Meji” symbolizing warmth and prosperity.
Traditional Foods of Makar Sankranti
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Til-gur ladoo (Maharashtra).
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Undhiyu & Jalebi (Gujarat).
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Pongal dish (Tamil Nadu).
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Khichdi (Uttar Pradesh & Bihar).
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Importance of sesame and jaggery in winter for health.
Regional Celebrations Across India
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Uttar Pradesh & Bihar: Khichdi donations.
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West Bengal: Ganga Sagar Mela (pilgrimage).
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Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh: Kite flying competitions.
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Maharashtra: Tilgul exchange — “Tilgul ghya, goad goad bola”.
Travel Guide for Tourists – Where to Experience Makar Sankranti 2025
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Ahmedabad (Kite Festival at Sabarmati Riverfront).
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Jaipur & Jodhpur (colorful kite competitions).
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Ganga Sagar, West Bengal (holy dip & fair).
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Tamil Nadu villages (authentic Pongal experience).
Cultural & Social Significance
Cultural Significance
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India is a land of many festivals, which play an integral part in the lives of its people. Since it’s a vast country, each region has contributed to this list of important festivals. Due to the vast geography and diversity of culture in India, the significance of the festivals remains the same throughout the country, but the method of celebration, duration, and special culinary, differs from state to state.
Each Indian festival also has unique elements, symbols, and rituals connected to the celebrations, which define it. For example, Holi is synonymous with coloured powders and coloured water that is sprayed on one another during the festival. Diwali is identifiable by the usage of earthen lamps, strings of electric bulbs to decorate homes and the firecrackers that are burnt during this festival.
Similarly, in the case of Makara Sankranti, kites and kite flying is what lend the identity to this festival. People look forward to buying, flying colorful kites while celebrating this festival. Kite flying is an integral part of Maka Sankranti celebrations across India.
Tips for Travelers
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Book tickets & hotels in Gujarat before January (festival rush).
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Carry traditional clothes to blend into local culture.
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Try local festive foods.
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Participate respectfully in rituals and celebrations.
Makar Sankranti 2025 is not just another date on the calendar; it is a festival that connects India’s agricultural roots, spiritual beliefs, and cultural vibrancy. Whether you are watching kites soar in Gujarat, enjoying a bonfire in Punjab, tasting Pongal in Tamil Nadu, or celebrating Magh Bihu in Assam, this festival offers a glimpse into India’s unity through diversity. If you are a traveler or culture enthusiast, mark 14 January 2025 in your diary — because Makar Sankranti is an experience you will never forget.
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