Celebrations across India
Maharashtra & Gujarat
Here the day is known as Makar Sankranti. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn, marking the start of its northward journey. In Gujarat, to celebrate the skies are filled with kites and at night, kites with paper lamps fill the sky with light.
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
The festival is celebrated for up to four days and is known as Pongal.
In Andhra Pradesh, the first day is known as Bhogi, and it is a day of cleaning and cleansing; old clothes are thrown away, marking the start of new life.
Punjab
The festival is called Lohri. December and January is winter in Punjab and bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankranti. Sweets, sugarcane and rice are thrown on the bonfires and friends and relatives gather together.
Uttar Pradesh
The period is celebrated as Kicheri. An important tradition on this day is to have a bath and masses of people can be seen bathing in the Sangam at Prayagraj where the rivers Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswathi flow together.