Makar Sankranti in Odisha: Where harvest, faith and heavens meet

By: Binit Kumar Bhoi

Makar Sankranti arrives when Surya Dev enters Capricorn. It marks the Sun's transition into Uttarayana, the six-month period when Earth's northern hemisphere tilts progressively toward solar rays. This results in days getting longer.

Ancient Indian astronomers tracked this with precision centuries before modern instruments existed. They understood what it meant for agriculture and weather patterns.

For farmers across India, this festival matters immensely. It signals the end of the harvest season. After months of waiting and watching their crops grow, the grain is finally harvested, and they thank the Gods for this.

It is celebrated all over India in different forms. Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal, Gujarat celebrates it as Uttarayan, Karnataka calls it Sankramana, and in Odisha we call it Makar Sankranti.

Odisha's Traditional Food During Makar Sankranti

In Odisha, the festival's centerpiece is Makara Chawal, a traditional preparation with cultural significance. The dish combines freshly harvested rice that is turned into coarse powder and mixed with banana, coconut, jaggery, chhena (cottage cheese), all gently mixed with milk to create what locals consider a sacred offering.

The first portion always goes to the deity. Only after offering to God do families share it among themselves. This sequence has been maintained for as long as anyone can remember.

Alongside Makara Chawal, households across the state prepare traditional pithas, rice-based cakes and dumplings like Arisa Pitha and Mua. The preparation process is labor-intensive.

Inside the Temple

Inside the Jagannath Temple, Makar Sankranti is observed as Uttarayana Yatra day. According to temple tradition, this marks the return of Goddess Lakshmi from her father's home, an event that requires ceremonial welcome, including the offering of Makara Chawal as bhoga.

The day's most visually striking element is the Makara Chaurasia Besha, an elaborate costume change for Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The deities are adorned in intricate attire incorporating makara headgear, a presentation that requires specialized craftsmanship passed down through generations of temple servitors.

Thousands of devotees typically gather at the temple for darshan of the Makara Chaurasia Besha, many waiting for hours to witness what they consider a divine embodiment of the seasonal transition.

Makara Chaurasia Besha: The Visible Shift

And then comes the Makara Chaurasia Besha. Makara Chaurasia Besha transforms Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The deities are adorned in elaborate costumes that incorporate Makara headgear, inspired by a mythical creature.

The kind of craftsmanship that requires servitors who've apprenticed for years to get details right. But here's what matters. This Besha appears specifically when the Sun enters Uttarayana. The ritual is locked to celestial movement with precision that would impress any astronomer.

Why the Sky Fills with Kites

All over India, especially in coastal regions like Odisha, on Makar Sankranti, you'll see kites.

The timing connects directly to what's happening astronomically. As the Sun moves into Uttarayana, wind patterns shift. This also has to do with the temperature difference between land and sea. Breeze flows from 5 to 15 km per hour, and it's more consistent, more suitable for keeping kites aloft.

The festival's persistence across generations, despite urbanization and modernization, suggests its continued relevance for communities seeking to mark seasonal transitions with collective meaning.

Contemporary Observance

In 2025, as in previous years, Makar Sankranti brought familiar patterns across Odisha. Markets reported brisk sales of ingredients for Makara Chawal and pithas. Kite vendors did steady business in the days leading up to the festival. The Jagannath Temple managed large crowds for the Makara Chaurasia Besha darshan.

State tourism authorities have increasingly recognized the festival's potential for cultural tourism, though traditional practitioners emphasize that observances remain primarily community-centered rather than performance-oriented.

Conclusion

What accounts for Makar Sankranti's continued prominence in Odisha's cultural calendar? Observers point to multiple factors: its connection to observable natural phenomena, its integration of family and community activities, and its balance of structure and flexibility.

The core elements remain consistent—the timing, the offerings, the temple rituals. For many Odias, the festival serves as an annual reminder of connections between human communities and natural cycles. As the Sun continues its predictable journey northward, the traditions marking its transition remain embedded in the state's cultural fabric.