Makar Sankranti, a festival that marks the onset of longer warmer days and goodbye to the chilling winter days is around the corner. This Year-2024, Makar Sankranti falls on the 15th of January. There will be colourful kites soaring in the sky with family or friends coming together to celebrate this special occasion. Like every other occasion, food plays a major role in Sankranti Celebrations. There will be a diverse array of traditional dishes that will grace the dining tables. Every state prefers its delicious delicacy to mark this harvest festival.
From Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Gujarat to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, every state prepares its traditional food to relish along with their friends and family while welcoming the spring season.
If you’re a foodie and figuring out Makar Sankranti food ideas, you have arrived at the right place. Through this blog, let's embark on a culinary journey to explore the delightful traditional treats from different states that make Makar Sankranti an absolute delight.
Go on, take a scroll, and choose according to your taste preferences to have the most amazing Makar Sankranti 2024!
1. Khichdi – Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh celebrates Makar Sankranti with a comforting bowl of staple food "Khichdi." Made with rice and lentils, this one-pot wonder is cooked with aromatic spices and topped with a dollop of homemade ghee that elevates the overall experience. Khichdi is widely known as the favourite food of the Hindus and is hugely served by Prasadam too. You can also team it with freshly prepared green chutney at home and a bowl of seasonal veggie salad for a wholesome meal which is highly delicious and nutritious.
If you want to relish Khichdi made with premium organic ingredients, contact OMKITCHEN Team at +91 8882210294
2. Til Laddu – Maharashtra
Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra is incomplete without preparing Til Laddu aka sesame seeds laddu sweetened with jaggery. These sweet delights symbolize the exchange of goodwill and sweet words during the festival. There is a popular saying in Marathi Households while greeting family and friends on this special occasion – ‘Til gul ghya ni goad goad bola’. It means that when one eats til and gud, they speak and live well.
Sesame seed is one of the main ingredients of the Sankranti festival which is also given away as “Daan” to bring in good fortune. According to Hindu mythology, it is said to be blessed by God Yama and is consumed as a symbol of immortality.
Fun Fact: OMSWEETS Til Laddu is made with jaggery, sesame seeds & cardamom powder and incorporates some amazing health benefits like improving digestion and curbing hunger thus aids in weight management too.
3. Nolen Gurer Payesh – West Bengal
Bengalis and their love for Payesh is widely known. It is a quintessential winter classic for the Bengalis. A creamy rice pudding, Payesh is infused with cardamom, garnished with crunchy nuts, and sweetened with jaggery or sugar. This luscious treat symbolizes warmth and familial bonds, making it an essential part of the celebrations. Add strands of Kesar which both looks and tastes luxurious.
4. Atte Ki Pinni – Punjab
Pinni reminds us of our childhood when our Dadi’s and Nanii’s used to make these sweet balls filled with handfuls of nuts during the winter season. Well, if you aren’t aware, let us tell you that Pinni is a flavourful sweet hailing all the way from Punjab and widely prepared at home to mark the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
These bite-sized laddus are signature sweets made with whole wheat flour, jaggery, and an assortment of nuts during the winters and for Sankranti celebrations too. As they are sweetened with jaggery, they don’t just taste good but also provide warmth to the body and joy to the festivity.
5. Undhiyu – Gujarat
Undiyu is yet another signature Makar Sankranti signature dish from Gujarat. Derived from the Gujarati word Undhu, it is a classical Gujarati dish made in an inverted clay pot made with seasonal winter veggies like potatoes, green peas, bananas, and beans slowly cooked together with buttermilk, coconut, and the right balance of sweets to infuse the right flavour.
So, this Makar Sankranti 2024 play Kai Po Che and cook this dish to enjoy the festival totally Gujarati Style.
6. Ven Pongal (Khara Pongal) – Tamil Nadu
Last but not least, Tamil Tamil Nadu celebrates the Makar Sankranti festival as Pongal. And, the center of attraction during their celebrations is the traditional feast Ven Pongal (Khara Pongal), a hearty dish made with newly harvested rice, lentils, spices, curry leaves, and a generous amount of ghee. It is a South Indian comfort food at its best.
This lip-smacking OG dish acts as a symbol of prosperity and abundance. The dish is often garnished with cashews and black pepper, creating a symphony of flavours. Serve it along with Vada and Sambhar. Bet your guests will be asking for more!
Final Thoughts
As families come together to celebrate the harvest and the changing seasons, the diverse array of traditional dishes serves as a reminder of the unity in diversity that defines the country. So, this Makar Sankranti, let your taste buds embark on a delightful journey across India, savouring the unique flavours that each state brings to the festive table and have an absolute best.
Get in touch with OMKITCHEN to sort your Makar Sakranti special organic and delicious feasts. So that you sit back, relax, enjoy, and leave the food preparations to us!
Happy Makar Sankranti 2024!
