The winter chill is slowly going away, and the sun is finally starting to feel warm again. That can only mean one thing—it is time for Makar Sankranti! This is one of my favourite times of the year because the whole country feels so alive and full of energy.
I love how every street smells like roasted sesame and sweet jaggery. For Makar Sankranti 2026, let’s set aside our phones for a moment and bask in the bright blue skies. It is a day to be thankful for the food on our plates and the people in our lives.
Why We Celebrate Makar Sankranti Every Year
Have you ever wondered why we all get so excited when mid-January rolls around? It is because the earth is finishing its cold, dark cycle and moving toward warmer, brighter days. We celebrate this time to say a big “thank you” to nature for the sun and the fresh food we get from the fields. It is a time to let go of old worries and start fresh with a clean heart.
In 2026, we will celebrate Makar Sankranti on January 14th. This special day has a long history that goes back thousands of years. It marks the moment the sun enters the “Makara” or Capricorn sign, which means winter is ending. Long ago, our ancestors started this festival to honour the Sun God for a good harvest. Today, we keep that history alive by sharing sweets and flying kites together under the warm sun.
Traditional Makar Sankranti Recipes to Enjoy
Food is the best part of any festival, and this one is no different! We usually make treats that keep us warm and give us energy during the winter days. Most of these dishes use simple things like rice, Jiggery ( Guda (ଗୁଡ଼)), and coconut.
For Makar Sankranti, here are some tasty recipes we love to share with our friends:
- Makar Chaula: A fresh mix of new rice, milk, and ginger.
- Rasi Ladu: Sweet balls made from crunchy sesame seeds and Jiggery ( Guda (ଗୁଡ଼)).
- Chhena Poda: Our favourite baked cheese dessert that everyone loves.
- Pitha: Tasty steamed or fried cakes made from rice flour.
Here are 10 more delicious recipes you can enjoy during Makar Sankranti
| ଦହି ଚୁଡ଼ା (Dahi Chuda) | A simple and cooling mix of curd and flattened rice, often eaten with jaggery or bananas. ଏହା ଏକ ସହଜ ଏବଂ ଶାନ୍ତିଦାୟକ ଖାଦ୍ୟ। ଚୁଡ଼ା, ଦହି, ଗୁଡ଼ ଏବଂ କଦଳୀକୁ ମିଶାଇ ଏହା ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କରାଯାଏ। |
| ଖେଚୁଡ଼ି (Khichdi) | A warm, comforting bowl of rice and lentils. Many people eat this to stay healthy and light. ଚାଉଳ ଏବଂ ଡାଲିକୁ ମିଶାଇ ତିଆରି ହେଉଥିବା ଏହି ଗରମ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ବହୁତ ଭଲ। |
| ଆରିସା ପିଠା (Arisa Pitha) | A famous Odia deep-fried pancake made with rice flour and jaggery. It is crunchy and sweet! ଏହା ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଏକ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ପିଠା। ଚାଉଳ ଚୂନା ଏବଂ ଗୁଡ଼ରେ ତିଆରି ଏହି ପିଠା ଖାଇବାକୁ ବହୁତ କଡ଼ମଡ଼ିଆ ଏବଂ ମିଠା। |
| ତିଳ ଲଡୁ (Til Ladoo) | Sweet balls made with white or black sesame seeds. They are a classic treat for this day. ରାଶି ଏବଂ ଗୁଡ଼କୁ ମିଶାଇ ଏହି ଛୋଟ ଛୋଟ ଲଡୁ ତିଆରି ହୁଏ। ଏହା ଶୀତ ଦିନେ ଶରୀର ପାଇଁ ବହୁତ ହିତକର। |
| ମିଠା ପୋଙ୍ଗଲ (Sweet Pongal) | A creamy South Indian dish made with rice, moong dal, and plenty of jaggery and ghee. ଚାଉଳ, ମୁଗ ଡାଲି, ଗୁଡ଼ ଏବଂ ଘିଅରେ ତିଆରି ଏହି ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଭାରତରେ ବହୁତ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ। |
| ପାଟିସାପ୍ତା (Patishapta) | Thin crepes filled with a sweet coconut or mawa mixture are popular in many households. ଏହା ଏକ ପ୍ରକାରର ସରୁ ଚକୁଳି ପରି, ଯାହାର ଭିତରେ ନଡ଼ିଆ କିମ୍ବା ଖୁଆର ପୁର ଦିଆଯାଇଥାଏ। |
| ଗଜକ (Gajak) | Thin crepes filled with a sweet coconut or mawa mixture are popular in many households. ରାଶି କିମ୍ବା ଚିନାବାଦାମ ଏବଂ ଗୁଡ଼ରେ ତିଆରି ଏହି ଶୁଖିଲା ମିଠା ଖୁବ୍ ସୁଆଦିଆ। |
| ଏଣ୍ଡୁରି ପିଠା (Enduri Pitha) | A special Odia pitha steamed in turmeric leaves, which gives it a wonderful aroma. ହଳଦୀ ପତ୍ରରେ ସିଝାଯାଉଥିବା ଏହି ଓଡ଼ିଆ ପିଠାର ବାସ୍ନା ଏବଂ ସ୍ୱାଦ ଅତି ଚମତ୍କାର। |
| କାକରା ପିଠା (Kakara Pitha) | A deep-fried sweet dumpling made of suji (semolina) or wheat flour with a coconut filling. ସୁଜି କିମ୍ବା ଗହମ ଅଟାରେ ତିଆରି ଏହି ଛଣା ପିଠା ଭିତରେ ନଡ଼ିଆ ପୁର ଭର୍ତ୍ତି ହୋଇଥାଏ। |
| ପୁରନ୍ ପୋଲି (Puran Poli) | A sweet flatbread stuffed with a smooth lentil and jaggery paste, served with a bit of ghee. ଏହା ଏକ ମିଠା ରୁଟି ପରି, ଯାହା ଭିତରେ ଚଣା ଡାଲି ଏବଂ ଗୁଡ଼ର ମିଶ୍ରଣ ଦିଆଯାଇଥାଏ। |
Best Ways to Celebrate Makar Sankranti 2026
The best way to enjoy this day is to spend time outdoors with your loved ones. Many people head to the rooftops for kite flying or go to the river for a holy dip. It is all about being happy and active. You can also help others by giving away food or old clothes to those who really need them.
For WhatsApp Messages (Personal & Sweet)
- English: “Happy Makar Sankranti! I hope your day is filled with the sweetness of jaggery and the joy of flying kites.”
- Odia: “ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତିର ଅନେକ ଅନେକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା! ଆଶା କରୁଛି ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଦିନଟି ଗୁଡ଼ ଭଳି ମିଠା ହେଉ ଏବଂ ଗୁଡ଼ି ଉଡ଼ାଇବାର ଖୁସିରେ ଭରିଯାଉ।”
- English: “May the rising sun bring bright colours and new hope into your life. Enjoy the Til-Gul!”
- Odia: “ଉଦୟ ହେଉଥିବା ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ନୂଆ ରଙ୍ଗ ଏବଂ ଆଶା ନେଇ ଆସନ୍ତୁ। ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତିର ମିଠା ଖାଇ ବହୁତ ମଜା କରନ୍ତୁ!”
For Instagram Captions (Short & Trendy)
- English: “Higher than the kites, brighter than the sun. Happy Makar Sankranti!”
- Odia: “ଗୁଡ଼ି ଠାରୁ ଉଚ୍ଚରେ, ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଠାରୁ ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳରେ। ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତିର ଅନେକ ଅନେକ ଶୁଭକାମନା!”
- English: “Sky full of kites, heart full of dreams.”
- Odia: “ଆକାଶ ଭର୍ତ୍ତି ଗୁଡ଼ି, ମନ ଭର୍ତ୍ତି ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ। ଶୁଭ ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି!”
For Facebook Posts (Warm & Detailed)
- English: “Wishing all my friends and family a year full of success and happiness. Happy Makar Sankranti!”
- Odia: “ମୋର ସମସ୍ତ ସାଙ୍ଗସାଥୀ ଏବଂ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ସଫଳତା ଓ ଖୁସିର ଏକ ନୂଆ ବର୍ଷ। ଆପଣ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତିର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା!”
- English: “May the sun god bless us all with good health and peace.”
- Odia: “ଭଗବାନ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଦେବ ଆମ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଉତ୍ତମ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ଶାନ୍ତି ପ୍ରଦାନ କରନ୍ତୁ। ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, ଶୁଭ ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି!”
For WhatsApp Status (Punchy & Fun)
- English: “May your worries fly away like a cut kite today. Happy Makar Sankranti!”
- Odia: “ଆପଣଙ୍କ ସବୁ ଚିନ୍ତା ଏକ କଟା ଗୁଡ଼ି ଭଳି ଦୂରେଇ ଯାଉ। ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ୨୦୨୬ ର ଅନେକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା!”
- English: “New season, new sunshine, new hopes.”
- Odia: “ନୂଆ ଋତୁ, ନୂଆ ସକାଳ ଏବଂ ନୂଆ ଆଶା। ଶୁଭ ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି!”
A special Odia touch, In Odisha, we love to say:
“ମକର ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତିର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା, ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ମକର ଚାଉଳ ଭଳି ସୁଆଦିଆ ହେଉ!” (Warm wishes for Makar Sankranti, may your life be as tasty as Makar Chaula!)
When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?
It will be celebrated on January 14, 2026, as the sun moves into the Capricorn sign.
Why do we fly kites on this day?
It is a fun way to stay in the sun, which is healthy for your skin and body.
What is the special food in Odisha?
The main dish is Makar Chaula, made from freshly harvested rice, jaggery, and delicious fruits.
Conclusion
As the colourful kites soar high in the sky, I hope your dreams and happiness soar even higher. Let this day wash away any old worries and fill your life with the sweetness of jaggery. Take a deep breath, enjoy the warm sun, and make some beautiful memories today.
