Makar Sankranti 2026 Brings Harvest Celebrations Across India
Makar Sankranti arrives on January 15, 2026, marking a significant moment in the Indian calendar. This harvest festival celebrates the Sun's transition into the Capricorn zodiac. The occasion brings longer days and auspicious new beginnings. Communities across India observe Makar Sankranti with great fervor. Unique rituals and traditional foods embody the season's warmth and joy.
10 Essential Dishes for Your Makar Sankranti Feast
Food plays a central role in Makar Sankranti celebrations. Each region offers special dishes that reflect local traditions. Here are ten traditional recipes you must prepare to make your festival truly special.
Tilgul Laddoo: Sweetness and Harmony
Tilgul Laddoo stands as a festival staple. These ladoos symbolize sweetness and harmony in relationships. The simple yet nutritious dessert combines sesame seeds with jaggery.
How to make it: Dry roast one cup of sesame seeds until they turn golden. Melt three-quarters cup of jaggery with a tablespoon of water until sticky. Mix the sesame seeds into the jaggery syrup. Shape the mixture into ladoos once it cools slightly. Let them set before serving.
Pongal: South Indian Quintessential
Pongal comes in both sweet and savory varieties. Sweet Pongal, known as Sakkarai Pongal, often gets offered to the Sun God. This dish features jaggery, rice, and lentils.
How to make it: Cook one cup of rice with one-quarter cup of moong dal together. Melt one cup of jaggery in water and add it to the cooked mixture. Garnish with roasted cashews, raisins, and cardamom powder.
Puran Poli: Maharashtra's Festival Favorite
This stuffed flatbread from Maharashtra delights festival-goers. Puran Poli uses whole wheat dough with a sweet filling of jaggery and chana dal.
How to make it: Cook one cup of chana dal until soft. Mash and mix it with one cup of jaggery, cardamom, and nutmeg. Roll out dough balls and stuff them with the mixture. Flatten them into round breads. Cook on a tawa with ghee until golden.
Gur ki Chikki: Crunchy Sweet Treat
Gur ki Chikki offers a crunchy and sweet experience. This treat prepares with jaggery and nuts like peanuts or sesame seeds.
How to make it: Roast one cup of peanuts and remove their skins. Melt one cup of jaggery until it reaches a hard-ball consistency. Mix in the peanuts. Spread the mixture on a greased surface. Cut into squares once set.
Undhiyu: Gujarati Mixed Vegetable Delight
Undhiyu represents a traditional Gujarati mixed vegetable dish. This slow-cooked preparation features seasonal vegetables, fenugreek dumplings, and spices. People often serve it with puris during the festival.
How to make it: Combine winter vegetables like yam, green peas, and potatoes with spices, coconut, and sesame seeds. Add fried methi dumplings. Cook everything in a heavy-bottomed pan until the flavors blend beautifully.
Makki ki Roti and Sarson ka Saag: Punjabi Winter Classic
This Punjabi combination suits the winter season perfectly. Makki ki Roti, made from maize flour, pairs beautifully with mustard greens in Sarson ka Saag.
How to make the saag: Cook mustard greens with spinach. Blend them into a coarse paste. Temper with ghee, garlic, and ginger. Serve with flatbreads made from maize flour.
Khichdi: Auspicious Comfort Food
Khichdi holds high auspicious value during Makar Sankranti. This mix of rice, lentils, and spices gets prepared widely across India.
How to make it: Cook rice and moong dal with turmeric, salt, and water until soft. Temper with ghee, cumin seeds, and asafoetida for a comforting dish.
Gajak: Crunchy Winter Dessert
Gajak serves as a must-have crunchy dessert during the winter festival. This treat uses sesame seeds and jaggery.
How to make it: Dry roast one cup of sesame seeds until aromatic. Heat one cup of jaggery with one-quarter cup of water in a pan. Stir well until it thickens into a sticky syrup. Test by dropping a little into cold water; it should harden immediately. Mix roasted sesame seeds into the syrup quickly. Spread the mixture thinly on a greased surface. Let it cool. Cut into squares or desired shapes before serving.
Patishapta: Bengali Delicacy
Patishapta presents a Bengali delicacy in the form of a crepe. This dish fills with sweetened coconut and jaggery.
How to make it: Make a batter with rice flour, all-purpose flour, and milk. Cook thin crepes. Fill them with a mixture of coconut, jaggery, and cardamom. Fold and serve warm.
Lai Pattis: Bihari Sweet Treat
Lai Pattis offers a sweet dish popular in Bihar. This old-fashioned treat uses puffed rice and jaggery.
How to make it: Dry roast two cups of puffed rice. Melt one cup jaggery with one-quarter cup water on medium heat. Stir constantly until it reaches a sticky consistency. Test the syrup by dropping a little into cold water; it should harden immediately. Mix the puffed rice with jaggery syrup quickly to coat evenly. Grease your palms with ghee. Mold into round patties or small ladoos. Allow them to cool and set before serving.
These ten dishes capture the essence of Makar Sankranti celebrations across India. Each recipe brings regional flavors and traditional significance to your festival table. Prepare these foods to honor the harvest season and welcome longer, brighter days.
