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Uttarayan 2025: As per Drik Panchang, Uttarayana will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14, marking the end of winter and the onset of longer days.
Uttarayan Sankranti Moment is expected to be observed at 9:03 AM, according to Drik Panchang. (Image: Shutterstock)
Uttarayan is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrated across India with pomp and show. Also known as Makar Sankranti, the auspicious festival holds great significance and is eagerly awaited by people of all ages. It brings families and communities together, fostering a sense of joy and unity. The best part of this festival is kite flying, which is nothing less than a spectacle in the sky. Beyond the exhilarating kite-flying competitions, the festival is all about good food, gratitude, reflection and embracing new beginnings.
On Uttarayan 2025, let us look into the date, shubh muhurat, history, significance of flying kites, exuberant celebrations, and traditional dishes associated with the festival.
Uttarayan 2025: Will It Be Celebrated On January 14 or 15?
This year, there seems to be uncertainty surrounding the date for Uttarayan. There are debates over whether the festivities should be observed on January 14 or January 15. As per Drik Panchang, Uttarayan will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14, marking the end of winter and the onset of longer days.
Uttarayan 2025: Shubh Muhurat
The Uttarayan Sankranti Moment is expected to be observed at 9:03 AM, according to Drik Panchang.
Uttarayan 2025: History
The festival has ancient roots that date back to the Mahabharata. According to Hindu mythology, Bhishma Pitamah embraced death by waiting for the sun to be in Uttarayana, making the day auspicious and significant. He was granted the gift of choosing his own time and day of death.
During this time, the sun begins to migrate northward and shines on the southern hemisphere before Uttarayan. This season, also known as Winter Solstice, is considered auspicious and honours Lord Surya.
The celebration of Makar Sankranti is believed to have got its name after the goddess Sankranti, who slain the demon Sankarasur. Also known as Karidin or Kinkrant, the deity is said to have killed the evil Kinkarasur on the day after Makar Sankranti.
Uttarayan 2025: How It Is Celebrated
This harvest festival is a significant celebration dedicated to Surya (Sun God) and Sankranti. On the day of Uttarayan, people wake up early and take a holy dip in rivers, particularly the Ganges.
In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, the festival is marked by special puja ceremonies and kite flying.
During Uttarayan, the skies are adorned with colourful kites. The flying of kites, organised on a grand scale, symbolises the freedom of the spirit. In addition, it is believed that the sun’s rays during this moment purify the body.
Uttarayan 2025: Significance of Kite Flying
Uttarayan, also known as Makar Sankranti, holds immense cultural and spiritual significance. The festival symbolises the end of darkness and the triumph of light.It is a time that celebrates new beginnings by bidding farewell to winter and welcoming the warmth of the sun. During this festival, the main highlight is the colourful spectacle of kites soaring high in the sky.
People from all walks of life gather on rooftops and open grounds with brightly coloured kites and spools of string.
On this day, the sky is filled with vibrant hues as kites of various shapes and sizes compete for supremacy. With the melodious sound of music, people celebrate the spirit of Uttarayan and dance joyfully.
While flying kites, the thrill of cutting an opponent’s kite and shouting ‘Kai Po Che’, adds an element of competition to the festivities. Despite the fact that kite flying is considered a sport nowadays, it was once linked with good health as it involved prolonged sun exposure.
Uttarayan 2025: 5 Traditional Gujarati Dishes
Undhiyu
Gujaratis look forward to winter months to make the lip-smacking dish, Undhiyu. This traditional winter recipe is a quintessential Uttarayan dish prepared with fresh and seasonal vegetables. It includes vegetables like brinjal, sweet potatoes, yam, raw banana, green beans, surti papdi (flat beans), fenugreek leaves, ghee and various spices.
Traditionally served with roti or puri, this dish is slowly cooked in an earthen pot that is placed upside down in a fire pit dug in the ground. However, nowadays, people make this dish using a pressure cooker.
Jalebi and Fafda
This crispy, sweet and syrupy treat is everyone’s favourite during festivals. Made from fermented batter, jalebi is shaped into spirals and then deep-fried until golden brown.
The fried jalebis are then soaked in sugar syrup, resulting in a melt-in-the-mouth dessert. During Uttarayan, jalebis are served hot with fafda, creating a sweet and savoury combination.
To make the crunchy snack fafda, you just need gram flour, carom seeds and turmeric. The dough is flavoured and rolled into thin strips and deep-fried.
Sesame Chikki (Til Chikki)
Made from sesame seeds and jaggery, Til chikki is a brittle sweet dish that is a must-have during Uttarayan. To prepare this sweet delight, sesame seeds are roasted and combined with molten jaggery, which is later cut into squares or bars.
Apart from satisfying your sweet tooth, til chikki are rich in iron and calcium, and it also provides warmth and energy during the winter festival.
Khichdo
Another staple during Uttarayan is Khichdo. It is a sweet and comforting dish made from broken wheat, milk, nuts, ghee and jaggery. Cooked to a creamy consistency, Khichdo is then flavoured with cardamom and garnished with various dry fruits. This dish celebrates the beginning of the harvest season and signifies the transition to a new season.
Lapsi
Lapsi holds a special place in the heart of Guajarati people, symbolising prosperity and sweetness in life. It is a traditional Gujarati dessert prepared using broken wheat, ghee and jaggery. This wholesome dish is cooked slowly to achieve a rich, caramelised flavour. After this, it is garnished with nuts and raisins.
