Makar Sankranti 2025: History, Significance and celebrations

Makar Sankranti 2025: Overview

An important Indian festival, Makar Sankranti, marks the beginning of spring and the Sun’s journey into Makara Rashi, or Cancer. There is a harvest festival all over the country during Uttarayan, the start of the longer days and the Sun’s northward trek. In Sanatani Hindu culture, this cosmic event portends a period of prosperity and renewal, and is truly fortunate.

Makar Sankranti is an annual holiday that falls on the same day according to the solar calendar, unlike the lunisolar calendar. Usually Makar Sankranti falls on January 14 – 15 every year. In India, worshippers of the Sun God offer prayers, joyous festivities, and kite flying.

As the Makar Sankranti 2025 is approaching nearer, here is our blog to highlight this event’s date and muhurat, its significance, history, rituals and more.

Makar Sankranti 2025 date and Time

Makar Sankranti 2025 will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14.

The auspicious timing for the Sankranti are:

• Makar Sankranti Punya Kaal: 09:03 AM to 06:02 PM (Duration – 08 Hours 59 Mins)
• Makar Sankranti Maha Punya Kaal: 09:03 AM to 10:48 AM (Duration – 01 Hour 45 Mins )

History and significance of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti History

Hindu mythology says that Makar Sankranti is the day that the Sun God Surya visits his son Shani Dev, the lord of Capricorn. Since Saturn rules Capricorn, Surya enters this sign during Makar Sankranti with the goal of making bonds with Shani and bringing the father and son bond back again. India celebrates this occasion with high regard primarily because of its profound symbolic meaning, where this cosmic alignment represents the reunion of family members.

Another Makar Sankranti legend states about the holy Ganga river. On this day, the Ganga joined the ocean to purify the land, after King Bhagiratha had followed him to Kapil Muni’s ashram. Maharaj Bhagiratha made the tarpan (offering) for his ancestors at this confluence; this tradition is followed to this day. To celebrate this holy day, thousands of worshippers gather in Ganges riverside each year for the very popular and auspicious Gangasagar Mela. They seek blessings for their ancestors while taking a holy dip in the Ganges.

In Sanatan Hindu Dharma, the day the Sun enters Capricorn is called Makar Sankranti, or Makara Rashi. It is very significant both historically and religiously. This astronomical event signifies the end of winter and the start of longer days, representing the Sun’s Uttarayan voyage northward.

Old religious scriptures associate the celebration with the harvest, a symbol of abundance. Families must stay together because devotees of Shani believe that the Sun God removes all barriers from Shani’s life on this day. The diversity of Indian customs reflects the country’s long history and religious importance.

Makar Sankranti Significance

Makar Sankranti’s significance in Sanatan Dharma is highlighted by its association with salvation and purification. Taking a dip in one of the sacred rivers, the Ganges specifically, is considered a means of spiritual cleansing on this day. It is said that taking a bath in these sacred waters can purge a sin that has accumulated over many incarnations, resulting in moksha, or nirvana. It is often believed that taking a Ganga bath on Makar Sankranti has health benefits comparable to ten Ashwamedha Yagyas and a thousand cow offerings. Such acts of devotion and charity are crucial to the festival’s religious importance.

Makar Sankranti places equal emphasis on spiritual cleansing and compassion. Rice, lentils, and sesame seeds are symbols of wealth and purity. It is tradition to donate these to the poor. Giving on this day, according to Hindus, pleases the Gods and leads to prosperity in both the material and spiritual worlds. Makar Sankranti is an important occasion for Hindus to pray for heavenly gifts, purify their souls, and restore their connection to their faith.

Makar Sankranti is observed under various names. Although Makar Sankranti is the most used term, it is also known as Khichdi in some areas and Pongal in the southern states. The two most identifiable aspects of the festival are the fashionable attire and striking decorations donned by visitors. Interesting home-cooked dishes with a lot of sesame seeds and jaggery are also available. Some cultures love their rice cooked in fresh milk with jaggery, while others view khichdi as a basic lunch food. This variation demonstrates the various ways that other cultures have observed this significant day.

Makar Sankranti 2025: Puja Rituals

Makar Sankranti is a holy harvest festival that falls in the month of Magha. During that time, it is winter in India. People observe this festival with great devotion and care.

Devotees rise early in the morning during Brahma Muhurta. Then they take a holy dip in the Ganga river. If not possible in river Ganges, they can take a dip in any holy river and water body. After that, devotees offer Jal – Arghya (water) to Lord Surya while chanting mantras. They express gratitude to Lord Surya.

Performing acts of charity and donations on this auspicious day is considered highly appreciable. People donate warm clothing, Gajjak, and sesame seeds (Til) to Brahmins. Also, they conduct Hawan and Yajna on this day.

The mantra for Makar Sankranti:

Om Suryaye Namah..!!

Om Ghrani Suryaye Namah..!!

How to Celebrate Makar Sankranti 2025 Organically?

As the holy event of Makar Sankranti 2024 is coming near, here are some ways to celebrate this event organically.

On Makar Sankranti, til/sesame is used as an offering to deities. Also, til is used in making sweets and til chikki during puja. So try to use ingredients that are grown organically and are pesticide-free. Orgo All-Natural is a great source of all organic needs for your everyday use. Try our Sesame and sweeteners like Jaggery and Brown Sugar to make your puja more welcoming.

This year, make eco-friendly decorations on Makar Sankranti 2025. During celebrations, it’s important to use colorful earthen diya and paper lanterns to liven up your space. Using non-toxic dyes and recycled materials, buntings and torans will brighten your room as well without harming the environment. These eco-friendly decisions not only make your house look better, but also encourage sustainability, so you can enjoy the celebration without harming your surroundings. Orgo All-Natural holds a vast collection of home decor items from organic candles to handmade diyas. Pay a visit to our site to buy organic items.

Also, in this Makar Sankranti 2025, wear organic clothes with Orgo All-Natural. Sustainable and eco-friendly clothes mean no harm to Mother Earth, and what can be a better than to celebrate a nature festival like Makar Sankranti?

Gifts are a part of the celebration to spread happiness. During this Makar Sankranti 2025, send dry fruits and nutritious snack baskets to your loved ones. You can welcome Makar Sankranti 2025 with awareness and give the celebrations a healthy twist by choosing snacks from our e-store.

Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival, and try kitchen or roof gardening at this event. 

You can grow vegetables or other decor plants at your home. We provide organic seeds and sustainable pots to grow plants at your home. Orgo All-Natural is always there for you to make your festivals bright and soothing.