Makar Sankranti 2026: The Science of Harvest and the Joy of New Beginnings

Makar Sankranti 2026, celebrated on 14 January, arrives as more than a cultural celebration it marks a powerful intersection of science, agriculture and renewal.

Across India, Makar Sankranti is celebrated under different names in different states, each shaped by local crops, climate, customs and history. For families, this harvest festival offers a meaningful way to help children understand nature’s rhythms, gratitude and fresh beginnings through both tradition and scientific reasoning.

Makar Sankranti Across India

State	Local Name	Regional Traditions/Rituals
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana	Sankranti	Muggu (rangoli), kite flying, harvest foods, family gatherings
Assam	Magh Bihu/Bhogali Bihu/Maghar Domahi	Feasting, traditional games, cultural activities, marking the end of harvest season
Bihar and Jharkhand	Khichdi Parv	Offering khichdi, bathing rituals, agricultural gratitude
Gujarat	Uttarayan	Festive foods (undhiyu, jalebi, sugarcane, etc.), Surya Puja, charity and bathing
Karnataka	Suggi	Ellu-bella (sesame seeds and jaggery) exchange/sharing, sugarcane rituals, community celebrations
Kerala	Makara Vilakku	Pilgrimage to Sabarimala, celestial light marking the Sun’s transition
Punjab	Lohri	Bonfires, folk songs, celebrating winter crops and community bonding
Tamil Nadu	Pongal	Four-day harvest festival, cooking new rice, thanking the Sun, cattle worship
West Bengal	Poush Parbon	Pithe (rice cakes), agrarian rituals, rural fairs

Despite regional differences, the essence of Makar Sankranti remains universal celebrating harvest, sunlight, seasonal transition and new beginnings.

1. The Astronomical Science Behind Makar Sankranti

• Makar Sankranti is one of the few Indian festivals based on the solar calendar and not the lunar cycle, which is why it is celebrated on 14 January every year, and in leap years it may fall on 15 January due to the slight astronomical adjustment in the Sun’s transit.
• It marks the sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makara), known as Uttarayan, when daylight hours begin to increase.
• Astronomical studies highlight that longer daylight positively influences energy levels and biological rhythms in humans.

2. Why Sankranti is a Harvest Festival

• The festival coincides with the completion of the Rabi harvest season across many regions of India (the winter cropping cycle where crops such as wheat, barley, mustard and pulses are sown in October-November and harvested from January onwards).
• Agricultural science links this period to optimal crop maturity due to sunlight exposure and soil cycles.
• Explaining the science of harvest helps children appreciate the connection between food, farmers and nature.

3. Nutritional Wisdom in Sankranti Foods

• Traditional Sankranti dishes made with sesame, jaggery and millets are rich in iron, calcium and healthy fats.
• Nutrition research shows these ingredients support immunity and warmth during winter months.
• Such practices reflect early seasonal eating science that has been passed down through generations.

4. Kite Flying and the Physics of Play

• Kite flying during Makar Sankranti began as a tradition to encourage people to spend time outdoors under the winter sun, supporting vitamin D absorption. Flying kites has also been a way of expressing gratitude and devotion to the Sun God while symbolising the gradual strengthening of sunlight after winter.
• Over time, especially in Gujarat, this practice grew into a large-scale cultural celebration, eventually inspiring the International Kite Festival that attracts participants from across the world.
• From a scientific lens, kite flying introduces children to basic physics principles such as air pressure, lift, wind direction and balance in a hands-on, engaging way.
• The physical movement and outdoor play involved release endorphins, pain- and stress-relieving hormones that enhance mood, emotional balance and overall well-being.

5. Sankranti as a Psychological Reset

• Cultural psychologists observe that harvest festivals act as natural markers for reflection and renewal.
• Completing one agricultural cycle and beginning another mirrors the idea of new beginnings for children.
• This timing supports motivation, optimism and goal-setting in young minds.

6. Teaching Gratitude Through Science and Tradition

• Gratitude rituals during Sankranti align with positive psychology findings, such as offering freshly harvested grains to the Sun God, sharing traditional sweets like tilgul or pongal with neighbours and family, and feeding birds, cattle or the underprivileged as a gesture of thankfulness for abundance and prosperity.
• Studies in the Journal of Positive Psychology show gratitude improves emotional resilience and social bonding.
• Linking science with tradition makes learning values more meaningful and memorable.

7. Building Environmental Awareness

• Sankranti celebrations highlight respect for land, animals and seasonal cycles.
• Environmental education research shows early exposure to sustainability concepts builds long-term responsibility.
• This festival naturally introduces eco-conscious learning in everyday life.

Sankranti blends astronomy, agriculture, nutrition and psychology into a celebration that honours effort, patience and progress. By understanding the science behind harvest and renewal, families can help children view festivals not only as joyous occasions but also as lessons in balance, gratitude and growth that extend far beyond the season.