As the cool winds of winter begin to fade and the sun starts its northward journey, India gears up to celebrate one of its most joyous harvest festivals — Makar Sankranti.
This festival, observed with colorful kites, sweet delicacies, and warm bonfires, carries deep cultural and astronomical significance. It’s the perfect occasion to help children learn about traditions, community bonding, and gratitude for nature’s bounty — all through fun crafts, customs, and food.
In this article, we’ll explore why we celebrate Makar Sankranti, its regional variations, and 20 exciting ways to celebrate it with kids — from art activities to traditional recipes!
🌞 What is Makar Sankranti?
Makar Sankranti marks the day when the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara Rashi) — symbolizing the end of the winter solstice and the start of longer, warmer days. This astronomical shift is believed to usher in positivity and new beginnings, making it one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar.
Unlike most Indian festivals that follow the lunar cycle, Makar Sankranti follows the solar calendar, which is why it falls on the same date every year — January 14th (or occasionally 15th).
In 2025, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Tuesday, 14th January.
🌾 The Spiritual and Cultural Significance
Makar Sankranti celebrates abundance, renewal, and gratitude — it’s essentially India’s great harvest festival. Farmers thank the Sun, Earth, and their cattle for a successful harvest, and families come together to share festive meals and prayers.
The day also marks the start of Uttarayana, the six-month period considered highly auspicious in Hindu tradition. It is believed that during this phase, the Sun’s northward movement brings light, energy, and prosperity into human lives.
🕉️ Why It’s Called Makar Sankranti
The name “Makar Sankranti” comes from two Sanskrit words:
- ‘Makar’ – meaning Capricorn, the zodiac sign the Sun enters.
- ‘Sankranti’ – meaning movement or transition.
So, Makar Sankranti literally means the transition of the Sun into Capricorn.
🌍 Regional Names and Variations Across India
Though the festival’s spirit remains the same — celebrating harvest and gratitude — it is observed differently across India, with each region giving it a unique cultural flavor.
| State/Region | Local Name | Key Traditions |
| Punjab | Lohri | Bonfires, popcorn, revdi, folk dance |
| Uttar Pradesh & Bihar | Khichdi | Taking holy dips, offering khichdi to charity |
| Gujarat | Uttarayan | Flying kites, enjoying jalebi and fafda |
| West Bengal | Poush Sankranti | Making pithe (rice cakes) and palm jaggery sweets |
| Tamil Nadu | Pongal | Cooking “Pongal” sweet rice, decorating cattle |
| Andhra & Telangana | Pedda Panduga | Rangoli, cow worship, community feasts |
| Assam | Bhogali or Magh Bihu | Feasts, bonfires, bamboo huts, and traditional dances |
| Maharashtra | Makar Sankranti | Exchange of sesame sweets with the phrase “Tilgul ghya, god god bola” meaning “Accept this sweet and speak kindly.” |
👧 Explaining Sankranti to Children
For kids, the best way to understand Sankranti is through stories and symbolism:
- The Sun represents light, knowledge, and energy.
- Kites symbolize freedom and joy as they soar toward the sky.
- Bonfires signify letting go of negativity and welcoming warmth.
- Sesame and jaggery sweets represent harmony — combining different ingredients just as people come together in celebration.
Encourage kids to see Makar Sankranti as a festival of gratitude, kindness, and fresh beginnings.
🪁 Fun Sankranti Customs & Activities for Kids
Make the festival meaningful and exciting for children by involving them in creative crafts, traditional games, and family rituals.
🌈 1. Make Paper Kites
Use colorful chart paper, bamboo sticks, and string to make kites at home. Kids can decorate them with patterns, stickers, and even write wishes for the new year.
🔥 2. Create Mini Bonfires
Celebrate Lohri-style with a small, safe DIY bonfire using tealight candles surrounded by pebbles. Teach kids about warmth, sharing, and togetherness.
🎨 3. Rangoli Art
Draw bright rangolis using rice flour, flower petals, or eco-friendly colors. Let kids create star, sun, or kite motifs symbolizing the season’s joy
🧵 4. Handmade Garland Decoration
Help children make garlands with popcorn, paper flowers, or colored beads — perfect for home décor or festive backdrops.
🪶 5. Bird Feeder Craft
Since Sankranti celebrates nature’s abundance, teach kids compassion by creating DIY bird feeders using recycled bottles or coconut shells.
🌸 6. Sankranti Greeting Cards
Encourage children to make handmade cards with drawings of the Sun, kites, and cows. They can gift these to friends and neighbors.
🐮 7. Paint a Cow Mask
Since cows are revered and decorated during Pongal, kids can make paper cow masks and learn about their importance in rural life.
🍚 8. Mini Pongal Pot Craft
Use small clay pots and paint them with patterns. Fill them with cotton or small beads to represent the traditional Pongal rice dish.
🕯️ 9. Diyas & Lamps
Let kids paint diyas or glass jars in bright colors to light up the festive evening.
🏵️ 10. Clay Sun Model
Model the Sun with air-dry clay and paint it bright orange and yellow to teach children about its importance in Sankranti
🍴 Traditional Sankranti Recipes to Try with Kids
Festivals are incomplete without delicious traditional food. Here are a few easy dishes children can help prepare (with supervision):
11. Tilgul Ladoo (Sesame & Jaggery Balls)
Roast sesame seeds and mix them with melted jaggery. Roll into small balls — a healthy and symbolic Sankranti sweet.
12. Sakkarai Pongal
Made with rice, moong dal, jaggery, and ghee, this sweet dish from Tamil Nadu is both nourishing and delightful.
13. Khichdi
A comforting mix of rice, lentils, and spices — perfect for Uttar Pradesh’s traditional Sankranti meal.
14. Pithe Puli
In Bengal, Sankranti is incomplete without these rice dumplings stuffed with coconut and jaggery.
15. Peanut & Sesame Chikki
An easy no-bake treat for kids — crunchy, sweet, and fun to make together.
16. Curd Rice with Pickle
A simple dish kids can help mix — refreshing and symbolic of gratitude for the harvest.
17. Sugarcane Juice or Cubes
Introduce kids to traditional harvest crops by offering sugarcane pieces or juice.
18. Payasam (Kheer)
A South Indian favorite — creamy milk pudding made with rice or vermicelli, often flavored with cardamom and nuts.
19. Caramel Popcorn for Lohri
Popcorn represents prosperity. Make a quick caramel popcorn batch for a kid-friendly Lohri snack.
20. Coconut Rice
Fragrant and easy to make — it’s a perfect savory addition to the festive table.
🌼 Teaching the Festival’s Values
Beyond food and crafts, Sankranti teaches kids timeless lessons:
- Gratitude: Thank the Sun, Earth, and farmers.
- Letting Go: Bhogi teaches us to discard old habits and embrace change.
- Kindness: Feed birds, animals, and share sweets with others.
- Unity: Understand India’s diversity — one festival, many names.
- Sustainability: Use eco-friendly materials for decorations and kites.
✨ Final Thoughts
Makar Sankranti 2025 is more than just a festival of sweets and kites — it’s a reminder of how nature and human life are beautifully connected. By celebrating with children, we pass on traditions while nurturing their creativity and compassion.
From colorful crafts to traditional recipes, every little activity can spark curiosity about India’s heritage. So this year, let your home fill with sunshine, laughter, and the sweet aroma of sesame and jaggery.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Makar Sankranti! 🌞