Makar Sankranti in Odisha is the day of Makara Chaula: newly harvested rice, soaked but not cooked, mixed with banana, grated coconut, jaggery, sesame, chhena and milk, offered to the Sun and then eaten by everyone. People bathe at dawn in rivers and at the sea, fairs called Makar Mela gather at hill shrines, and friends renew their bond by exchanging the offering and calling each other "Makara".
The story
The Sun begins his northward course, and Odisha, whose greatest monument is a chariot built for him at Konark, gives him the first of the harvest.
Among the Adivasi peoples of the north and west of the state, the Santal, Ho, Bhumij and others, it is the biggest festival of the year, kept with days of dancing and with the Tusu songs. In Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar it runs for a week.
How it is kept
- Makara ChaulaThe uncooked rice offering, made at home and in every temple, including to Jagannath.
- Makara basibaTwo friends feed each other the offering and from then on address each other only as "Makara".
- The bathAt Chandrabhaga, on the Mahanadi, the Baitarani and at river mouths.
- KitesCuttack flies kites from every rooftop.
- Makar MelaFairs at Kalijai in Chilika lake, Atri, Jagatsinghpur and other shrines.
Why this date
Makar Sankranti is the day the Sun enters Makara; when that falls late in the day the observance moves to the next. Odisha's solar month of Magha begins on this day.
Makar Sankranti in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Friday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Monday | |
| 2031 | Wednesday |
More Odia festivals
11 FebruarySaraswati Pujaସରସ୍ୱତୀ ପୂଜା
13 FebruaryRatha Saptamiରଥ ସପ୍ତମୀ
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriମହା ଶିବରାତ୍ରି
24 November 2026Kartika Purnima and Boita Bandanaକାର୍ତ୍ତିକ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା · ବୋଇତ ବନ୍ଦାଣ
8 November 2026Diwaliଦୀପାବଳି
20 October 2026Dasaharaଦଶହରା
Where to see Makar Sankranti
In Odisha
- Jagannath Temple, PuriOdishaMakara Chaula is offered to the deities, who are dressed for the day in the Makara Chaurashi Besha.
- Kalijai Temple, ChilikaOdishaAn island shrine in the lagoon, reached by boat; the Makar Mela is its great day.
- CuttackOdishaThe old capital's kite festival on the banks of the Mahanadi and Kathajodi.
- Hatakeswar Temple, AtriOdishaA hot sulphur spring near Khordha, with a fair on this day.
Across India
- GangasagarWest BengalJust up the coast, the bathing fair where the Ganga meets the sea.
- PrayagrajUttar PradeshThe Magh Mela at the Sangam opens its main bathing days.
- MaduraiTamil NaduThe same day is Pongal, where the new rice is boiled over.