Check out the best places to visit for Makar Sankranti in India with some fun facts!

The first festival of the New Year 2025 is just around the corner and India is gearing up for it. After Lohri comes the ‘Festival of Kites’ Makar Sankranti. The day is dedicated to the worship of the Sun. Surya, the Sun God, is honored on Makar Sankranti. It is also well-known for its Rabi crops.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in many towns across India by singing songs, flying kites, and holding fairs. These are places in India where the holiday is widely celebrated and the market is usually crowded.

Fun Facts about Makar Sankranti – 

While Gujaratis look forward to yelling Kai Po Che at kites flying across the sky on Makar Sankranti, the Uttarayan holiday is about much more than religion and sweet treats. It contains a lot of interesting insights. This year Makar Sankranti in India will be celebrated on 14th January. To know how each region celebrates the festival continue scrolling –

1. Strong traditional and astrological importance

Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the day the sun transits from Sagittarius to Capricorn, and it has both astrological and traditional significance. The sun god is worshipped with sweets, devotion, and khichdi. According to the Hindu epic Mahabharata, King Bhishma was given the option of choosing his own time and day of death. He was looking forward to Makar Sankranti when he would seek death.

2. Kite flying comes with health benefits

One of the most popular activities at Gujarat’s Uttarayan festival is kite flying. While kite flying is now considered a sport, it was not always thought to be so. It was once thought that kite flying was associated with good health because the person would be exposed to the sun for an extended period of time.

3. Indian version of Thanksgiving

In many ways, Makar Sankranti is similar to Thanksgiving in Western culture. Like Thanksgiving, Makar Sankranti ushers in harvest, prosperity, and hope. It’s also the time of year when people gather to celebrate with their loved ones.

4. A note of love, happiness and togetherness

Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the harvest season and the arrival of spring. Sweets, savoury treats, and other food items are distributed as a message to put old grudges aside and begin the year on a positive note of optimism, love, and unity.

Places to visit for Makar Sankranti-

1. Jaipur

Rajasthan is one of India’s best winter destinations, and Jaipur is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is famous for its old-world beauty as well as its diverse art and architecture. Teej, the Elephant Festival, and the International Kite Festival are just a few of the many festivals celebrated in the city. Makar Sankranti is one of the most well-known Indian festivals. 

This ancient festival is held every year to welcome the winter harvest. It is observed in a number of states across the country. In Jaipur, the festival is also very popular. The weather is pleasant in January, and the city of Jaipur comes to life as a result of Makar Sankranti. This is when you’ll see a slew of brightly coloured kites flying through the sky, as well as a lot of smiles. To celebrate the festival here book hotels in Jaipur.

2. Vadodara

Another fantastic place to see the spectacular kite-flying events that take place during Makar Sankranti is Vadodara. The entire state of Gujarat is in a festive mood during the Uttarayan festival. People take to their rooftops to show off their amazing, one-of-a-kind, decorative kites, as well as their kite-flying abilities. Ahmedabad has a well-preserved Gujarati past.

Makar Sankranti is widely celebrated as a kite-flying festival. People leave their homes to worship the Sun and fly kites. Societies organize the kite flying festival. Kites are available for purchase all over the market. On that particular day, you could call the city “the city of kites.” Hotels in Vadodara will provide a glimpse of this festival. There are many tourist places to visit in Ahmedabad during your trip, do plan them accordingly.

3. Haridwar

Haridwar, one of the most beautiful religious destinations in the country, is also spectacular in the winter. Makar Sankranti is an auspicious day for Hindus, and Haridwar’s Ganga aarti, which is beautiful on any day, is even more so during the festival.

What person hasn’t heard of the holy city of Haridwar? It is one of the most well-known holy cities in India, and it is located in the state of Uttrakhand. Har ki Pauri, located on the Ganga River’s bank, is a popular tourist destination.

Haridwar is a popular pilgrimage destination that draws a large number of visitors all year. Haridwar hosts the Makar Sankranti festival. Ganga Arti is held at the Ganga Ghat in the evenings and is not to be missed. There are numerous hotels in Haridwar to book while visiting the holy city.

4. Amritsar

Makar Sankranti is also widely observed in Amritsar. You’ve probably heard of the Punjabi ritual of doing the Bhangra. Bhangra is a must-do for any celebration. Book hotels in Amritsar to celebrate the festival in a Punjabi way.

Wearing traditional attire, playing the dhol, and performing the Bhangra is all part of the festivities. This creates an energizing environment all around. People leave their houses to share jaggery, peanuts, and sesame sweets. Sing some well-known folk songs in addition.

5. Prayagraj

Because the Ganga runs through the city, it is a popular place to celebrate Makar Sankranti. It is customary to bathe in any of the sacred rivers on Makar Sankranti.

The Ganga is a sacred river that flows through Prayagraj and is bathed on special occasions. Makar Sankranti celebrations also include kite flying. There are also kite-flying competitions held during the festival.