Makar Sankranti is a religious, cultural, and harvest festival that marks the time when the sun begins to move north. It is often associated with the end of the winter solstice and the onset of longer days. During Makar Sankranti, Hindus across India engage in various rituals, including making pilgrimages to holy rivers for bathing to purify themselves of sins. In Gujarat, northwest India, a popular tradition is kite flying, where people fly colorful kites as a tribute to the Sun God.

This festival is a time of thanksgiving and celebration, marked by various traditions and rituals across different regions of India. Makar Sankranti coincides with other regional festivals like Pongal in Tamil Nadu, which is also a harvest festival celebrated over several days.