Makar Sankranti: Why We Fly Kites and Share Tilgul

Why We Celebrate Makar Sankranti with Kites and Tilgul

Makar Sankranti is a sacred festival that marks the Sun’s northward journey, called Uttarayana. Across India, people celebrate this auspicious transition with joy, devotion, and gratitude for the new harvest. Two charming traditions stand out—flying kites in the open, blue sky and exchanging tilgul, the sweet mix of sesame (til) and jaggery (gud). At first glance, these customs appear simple and festive. But behind them lies deep symbolism, ancient wisdom, and a spiritual invitation to brighten our minds and sweeten our relationships. In this article, we explore why kites and tilgul are central to Makar Sankranti, how they connect with Surya Dev (the Sun), and what they teach us about dharma, unity, and inner light—today and for generations to come.

Makar Sankranti: The Sun’s Sacred Turn to Uttarayana

Makar Sankranti occurs when the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn) in the sidereal zodiac, beginning Uttarayana—the six-month period considered highly auspicious in Sanatana Dharma. Scriptures revere this time as one of increasing light, clarity, and spiritual merit. The Mahabharata narrates how Bhishma Pitamaha, a great devotee and warrior, chose to leave his mortal body during Uttarayana, reflecting its sanctity.

Unlike many lunar festivals, Makar Sankranti follows the solar calendar and usually falls on January 14 (sometimes January 15). The season begins to shift; days slowly lengthen, winds turn crisp, and nature offers fresh grains. It is a harvest festival that honors Surya Dev, our eternal life-giver, reminding us to align our lives with truth, discipline, and gratitude.

The Inner Meaning of Tilgul (Sesame and Jaggery)

In Maharashtra and nearby regions, people greet one another with the loving words, “Tilgul ghya, god god bola”—“Accept this sesame-jaggery sweet and speak sweetly.” This simple sentence is a gentle spiritual practice. It invites us to let go of harshness, dissolve bitterness, and start the new cycle with sweetness in speech and heart.

• Sesame (Til): Ancient texts associate til with purity, longevity, and sacred offerings. It is used in homas and rites for ancestors, signifying continuity and blessings. The tiny seeds remind us that small acts of goodness can create great merit.
• Jaggery (Gud): Jaggery symbolizes warmth, energy, and the sweetness of righteous living. Fresh jaggery from the new cane harvest connects tilgul to gratitude for the season’s bounty.
• Spiritual Symbolism: Til binds with gud much like a family or community held together by love. Offering tilgul is a vow to nurture harmony, forgive past hurts, and choose gentle words. It is sweetness as sadhana.

Traditional wisdom also associates sesame and jaggery with nourishment suitable for the cool season. While individuals should follow personal needs and guidance, many households lovingly prepare tilgul laddoos to share abundance and warmth.

Why We Fly Kites on Makar Sankranti

As the Sun moves into Makara, the sky becomes a canvas for colorful kites. What began as a delightful pastime grew into a devotional gesture filled with meaning:

• Offering to the Sky: A rising kite is like an offering to Surya Dev. Our hearts lift upward; our eyes look toward the light. The string in our hand becomes the thread that connects effort, prayer, and grace.
• Discipline and Joy: Controlling a kite requires patience, skill, and attention—the same virtues we cultivate in spiritual practice. We play, yet we learn focus. We enjoy, yet we respect the wind, just as we learn to flow with life.
• Community and Unity: Rooftops fill with families, music, and laughter. Neighbors greet each other, share sweets, and cheer together. Kites stitch the skyline into a single, joyful tapestry.
• Light over Darkness: Bright colors high above the city symbolize clarity, hope, and the victory of light. After winter’s quiet, the sky comes alive with movement and color—an image of the mind awakening during Uttarayana.

In many places, morning kite-flying under soft sunlight is also seen as a wholesome way to welcome the season. The festival embodies the spiritual idea that play can be prayer when done in awareness and gratitude.

From History to Heritage: Regional Traditions of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is celebrated across India with unique names and flavors, yet a shared spirit of devotion and harvest thanksgiving:

• Gujarat and Rajasthan: Celebrated as Uttarayan, the kite festival transforms cities into vibrant skies. Friends shout friendly calls, exchange sweets, and enjoy traditional delicacies.
• Maharashtra: The hallmark is tilgul exchange and the gentle vow to “speak sweetly.” Married women often gift haldi-kumkum and tilgul to one another, strengthening bonds.
• Karnataka: Households offer ellu-bella—a mix of sesame, jaggery, coconut, groundnuts, and dried fruits—symbolizing sharing and goodwill.
• Tamil Nadu: Pongal is celebrated over several days, with Surya Pongal offered to the Sun God, and the first rice of the season cooked as sakkarai pongal.
• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Known for Bhogi, Kanuma, and Mukkanuma, families clean homes, worship cattle, and share festive foods like ariselu.
• Punjab: The eve is Lohri—bonfires, folk songs, and new harvest celebrations, especially for newborns and new marriages.
• Assam: Magh Bihu includes community feasts, bamboo huts, and joyous dances.
• Odisha and West Bengal: People take holy dips, offer sweets like pitha, and visit fairs such as Makar Mela.

Though customs vary, the heart is one: honor Surya Dev, cherish the harvest, share sweetness, and lift the spirit.

Rituals of the Day: Worship of Surya and The Path of Daan

Makar Sankranti invites simple, powerful practices that purify and uplift:

• Holy Bath and Dawn Prayers: Many begin with a bath at sunrise and offer water (arghya) to Surya Dev, chanting the divine name—Om Suryaya Namah—with folded hands and steady mind.
• Dana (Charity): Offering sesame, blankets, grains, or sweets to those in need is considered meritorious during Uttarayana. Generosity expands the heart and honors the spirit of the harvest.
• Tilgul and Fellowship: Visiting friends and neighbors to share tilgul builds harmony. The practice encourages forgiveness and fresh beginnings.
• Surya Namaskar: Many observe the day with gentle rounds of Surya Namaskar, aligning breath and movement with gratitude.

Each act, however small, becomes sacred when done with devotion and mindfulness.

Kites as Spiritual Teachers: Lessons from the Open Sky

When we fly a kite at Makar Sankranti, we are also practicing subtle inner lessons:

• Holding the Thread: The string is like the thread of awareness. Hold it too tight, and the kite may break; too loose, and it may fall. Balance is wisdom.
• Trusting the Wind: The wind is like grace. We cannot control it, but we can learn to receive it. A good flyer listens to the breeze—just as a seeker listens to life.
• Rising without Pride: A kite rises high yet remains tethered. Success is safe when humility is the string.
• Coloring the Sky: Each kite is a distinct color and shape—diversity that beautifies the world. Unity in diversity is the essence of dharma.

The Seasonal Wisdom of Til and Gud

Traditional households consider sesame and jaggery suitable for the season’s transition. Prepared lovingly as laddoos, chikkis, or mixtures like ellu-bella, they are shared with gratitude and blessings. While dietary needs are individual, these foods are cherished in many Indian kitchens for their cultural symbolism, nourishing taste, and connection to the fresh harvest. In sacred rites, sesame is also offered in homas and memorial prayers, signifying purity and remembrance. Thus, til and gud nourish both community and remembrance of our roots.

Modern-Day Significance: Celebrate with Care and Compassion

As we rejoice, let us keep our celebration kind to people, birds, and the environment:

• Choose Safe Materials: Prefer eco-friendly kites and natural or cotton threads; avoid hazardous threads that can harm birds and people.
• Be Mindful of Safety: Fly kites in open spaces, away from power lines, and supervise children. Enjoy gentle sunlight and stay hydrated.
• Respect Nature: Keep rooftops clean, collect leftover strings, and protect trees and birds. A short community clean-up after flying is an act of seva.
• Share and Include: Carry extra tilgul to share with neighbors, support local artisans, and invite someone who may be celebrating alone.

These mindful steps transform festivity into compassion, echoing the very heart of Makar Sankranti.

Words of Blessing: Sweetness in Speech, Brightness in Heart

• “Tilgul ghya, god god bola.” May your words be kind, your heart gentle.
• “Om Suryaya Namah.” May the Sun’s light guide your path.
• May your kite rise high with humility, and your life be sweet with gratitude.

Conclusion: The Joy of Light, the Grace of Sweetness

Makar Sankranti invites us to turn toward light—within and without. We fly kites to lift our gaze to the heavens, to practice discipline and joy, and to celebrate community under the blessing of Surya Dev. We share tilgul to sweeten relationships, honor the harvest, and renew our vow to speak with kindness. From Uttarayan’s spiritual promise to the region-wise traditions of India, the festival carries the timeless message of gratitude, unity, and hope. As we offer arghya to the Sun, let us also offer the light of our intentions. May our actions be guided by dharma, our words be sweet, and our hearts steady like the kite’s thread—anchored in humility, rising in grace. Om Suryaya Namah.