Makar Sankranti in Bihar and Jharkhand: Sakraat, Dahi-Chura and Tusu Parab
Quick answer: In Bihar, Makar Sankranti is called Sakraat or Tila Sankranti. The morning starts with a bath and sesame offered to the fire, then dahi-chura (flattened rice with curd) with tilkut, and khichdi at night. In Jharkhand, the same day closes Tusu Parab with songs and river immersion. In 20
Quick answer: In Bihar, Makar Sankranti is called Sakraat or Tila Sankranti. The morning starts with a bath and sesame offered to the fire, then dahi-chura (flattened rice with curd) with tilkut, and khichdi at night. In Jharkhand, the same day closes Tusu Parab with songs and river immersion. In 2027 it falls on 15 January in India per the panchang; some government lists mark 14 January.
Makar Sankranti 2027 in Bihar and Jharkhand: key facts
| 2027 | |
|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti (Sakraat) in India | Friday 15 January 2027 per the panchang; some government lists mark 14 January |
| Moment the Sun enters Makara | 9:14 PM IST on Thursday 14 January 2027 (Drik Panchang) |
| Patna | 9:14 PM on Thursday 14 January, after sunset, so the day is Friday 15 January 2027 |
| Tusu Parab immersion (Jharkhand) | On Makar Sankranti, the last day of the month of Poush |
| Bihar and Jharkhand holiday lists for 2027 | Not seen by us as of 12 November 2026; check the state government's notification |
Panchangs place the observance on Friday 15 January because the Sun enters Makara after sunset on Thursday 14 January. The Central Government's restricted-holiday list marks Makar Sankranti on Thursday 14 January. For timings in your city, see our Makar Sankranti 2027 guide, and confirm with your local panchang or temple priest.
Bihar: what are the local names?
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sakraat | The everyday spoken form of "Sankranti" in Bihar |
| Tila Sankranti | "Sesame Sankranti", from the sesame (til) offered, given and eaten |
| Khichdi | A popular name for the day, after the khichdi dinner |
| Dahi-chura | Curd (dahi) with flattened rice (chura or chuda); the morning meal |
| Makraat | The day after Sakraat, kept in some parts of the state with another khichdi meal |
The Government of Bihar's own page on the state's festivals lists Sakraat and Khichdi as local names, and its tourism page calls the day Tila Sankranti.
Bihar: how is Sakraat kept?
Morning: bath, sesame and the fire
The day starts early. People bathe in a river or pond, or at home. The Government of Bihar describes families beginning the day with worship and by putting sesame seeds into the fire. Many households then set aside sesame, rice and jaggery as gifts. For a simple home puja, see Makar Sankranti puja at home.
Late morning: dahi-chura
The festive meal is dahi-chura: flattened rice served with plenty of curd. The state government's page says it is eaten with red pumpkin (kohada) cooked with sugar and salt but no water, and with tilkut and lai. It also notes that the meal is traditionally made by women cooking together. Our dahi-chura recipe gives a home method.
Afternoon: visits and kites
The rest of the day goes to visiting relatives and to kites. The Government of Bihar mentions kite-flying festivals on Sakraat.
Night: khichdi and its "four friends"
Dinner is khichdi. The state's page describes a rich khichdi served with four companions, called the char yaar ("four friends"): chokha (a roasted, mashed vegetable dish), papad, ghee and pickle. It says this khichdi is why many people call the festival itself "Khichdi". In some parts of the state the following day, Makraat, brings another khichdi made with cauliflower, peas and potato.
Bihar: what sweets are made for Sakraat?
| Sweet | What it is |
|---|---|
| Tilkut | A crisp, flat sweet of pounded sesame with jaggery or sugar |
| Tilwa | A sesame sweet named on the state's festival page |
| Lai | Laddoos made of sesame, flattened rice and rice, as the state government describes them |
Why is Gaya famous for tilkut?
Gaya's tilkut is the best-known in Bihar, and Bihar newspapers report long queues at Gaya's tilkut shops in the days before Sakraat. A Gaya sweet-makers' association, the Bihar Rajya Mishthan Bhojan Vikreta Sangh, applied in September 2022 for a Geographical Indication for "Gaya Tilkut". The Intellectual Property India register shows the application still under examination, so it is not yet a registered GI. Our tilkut recipe covers making it at home.
Allergy note: tilkut, tilwa and lai contain sesame, and some lai contain nuts. Label them when you share them.
Jharkhand: Sakraat and Tusu Parab
Jharkhand keeps Sakraat with river baths and sesame sweets, much as Bihar does. What sets it apart is Tusu Parab, a harvest festival that ends on Makar Sankranti.
What is Tusu Parab?
Tusu (also Tusu Porob) is a month-long winter festival. It is one of the three major yearly festivals of the Kurmi community, together with Karam and Bandna. Scholars describe it as having grown out of Kurmi farming life. Many other communities in the region join in, Adivasi families among them. It is kept across the Chhotanagpur plateau: in Jharkhand, in western districts of West Bengal such as Purulia, and in parts of Odisha. The Jharkhand Chief Minister's office names the belt around Bundu, Tamar and Raidih as a centre of the festival.
The name Tusu has several suggested origins, including the rice husk (tush) used in the ritual. Scholars do not agree on one.
How is Tusu kept?
- Bringing Tusu home. The festival begins at the end of the Bengali month of Agrahayan, when the last sheaves of paddy come in from the fields. Girls set up Tusu in the home, with rice husk, rice, flowers and other offerings, in a niche or on a small altar.
- A month of songs. Every evening through Poush, unmarried girls and young women sing Tusu songs, often until late at night. In Kurmi tradition the singing itself is the worship. The songs treat Tusu as a daughter who has come home to her parents: she is fed, dressed, played with and, at the end, sent back. The Chief Minister's office notes that the festival has no written history but a very large body of songs.
- The chaudal. For the last day, families build a chaudal (also spelt choudol or chaural): a light frame of bamboo or wood covered with coloured paper and paper flowers.
- Immersion on Makar Sankranti. On the last day of Poush, which is Makar Sankranti, the chaudal is carried in procession and set into the water. Kurmi tradition prefers a flowing river to a pond, because Tusu is going back to her in-laws' home.
- Fairs. Tusu fairs are held through the season, with songs and dances such as the nachni and chhau. Some villages now take their chaudal to competitions at fairs instead of immersing it.
Tusu songs belong to the families and villages who sing them. We describe them here and do not print them. New songs on local themes are still being made.
What do people eat at Tusu?
Rice is at the heart of the festival. Puffed and flattened rice are offered to Tusu and shared afterwards. Homes make pithas, rice-flour cakes that may be steamed or fried. Gur pitha (arsa), made with rice flour and jaggery, is one of the best-known. Mudhi lai and tilkut are made and shared with relatives and neighbours.
Safety at Sakraat and Tusu
- River baths and immersions. Winter rivers are cold and currents can be strong. Keep children close, do not wade beyond your depth, and follow police and fair instructions.
- Kites. Use cotton thread. In its order of 11 July 2017 (O.A. No. 384 of 2016), the National Green Tribunal directed states to prohibit synthetic and nylon manja. Stay away from power lines and rooftop edges.
- Animal fights. Some Tusu fairs have had cockfights. Inciting animals to fight and running a place for animal fights are offences under section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Do not attend or bet on them.
How do families from Bihar and Jharkhand keep the day abroad?
Abroad, Sakraat is usually a home festival. Flattened rice (poha), plain yoghurt, sesame and jaggery are easy to find in Indian grocers, so dahi-chura with tilkut is the simplest way to keep the day. Khichdi with chokha makes the evening meal. Check your city's date first: in North America and the UK, Makar Sankranti 2027 falls on Thursday 14 January (see Makar Sankranti dates abroad).
How are Bihar and Jharkhand different from their neighbours?
| Region | Name | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Bihar | Sakraat, Tila Sankranti | Dahi-chura with tilkut; khichdi and its four friends at night |
| Jharkhand | Sakraat, Tusu Parab | A month of Tusu songs ending in river immersion; pithas |
| Uttar Pradesh | Khichdi | Khichdi offering at the Gorakhnath temple; Magh Mela bath at Prayagraj |
| West Bengal | Poush Sankranti | Pithe-puli; Tusu in Purulia |
See our Khichdi Sankranti in Uttar Pradesh and Poush Sankranti in West Bengal guides.
Frequently asked questions
Why is dahi-chura eaten on Makar Sankranti in Bihar?
It is the traditional festive meal of the day: flattened rice served with plenty of curd. The Government of Bihar describes it with red pumpkin, tilkut and lai. It is usually eaten together as a family meal.
What is the difference between Sakraat and Makraat?
Sakraat is the Sankranti day itself, with dahi-chura and khichdi. Makraat is the day after, kept in some parts of Bihar with another khichdi made with winter vegetables. Not every family keeps Makraat.
Does Gaya tilkut have a GI tag?
Not yet. A Gaya sweet-makers' association applied in September 2022, and the Intellectual Property India register shows the application under examination. Check the register for its current status.
What is Tusu Parab?
It is a month-long harvest festival of the Kurmi community and its neighbours in Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. Girls keep Tusu at home through Poush and sing to her every evening. On Makar Sankranti her chaudal is immersed in a river.
When is Tusu immersion in 2027?
Tusu is immersed on Makar Sankranti, the last day of Poush. The panchang places Makar Sankranti 2027 in India on Friday 15 January, while some government lists mark 14 January. Follow your village or family, and confirm with your local panchang or priest.
Is Makar Sankranti a holiday in Bihar and Jharkhand in 2027?
We had not seen either state's 2027 holiday list when we checked on 12 November 2026. The central restricted-holiday list marks Makar Sankranti on Thursday 14 January 2027. Check the state government's notification once it is out.
What is the char yaar served with khichdi?
The phrase means "four friends". The Government of Bihar lists them as chokha, papad, ghee and pickle, served with the Sakraat khichdi.
Sources
- Government of Bihar, Fairs (Makar Sankranti): https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/fairs.aspx (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Government of Bihar, Bihar festivals (Tila Sankranti): https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/bihartourism/biharfestivals (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Intellectual Property India, GI application 987, Gaya Tilkut (Sweet): https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublicSearch/Application/Details/987 (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Chief Minister of Jharkhand, "Tusu Parab or Makar": https://cm.jharkhand.gov.in/node/614 (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Raja Alam, "Festival of Tusu: An Introduction", Sahapedia: https://www.sahapedia.org/festival-of-tusu-introduction (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Binapani Mahato, "Harvest, Ritual, and Femininity: The Tusu Festival among the Kurmi of Bengal", Sāhitya vol. 13 (December 2025), Comparative Literature Association of India: https://www.clai.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/14_B.-Mahato.pdf (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Ranita Ray, "Tusu, the rustic celebration of sacrifice, life and nature", Slurrp, updated 17 March 2025: https://slurrp.com/article/makar-sankranti-2023-tusu-the-rustic-celebration-of-sacrifice-life-and-nature-1673436973636 (accessed 12 November 2026)
- Animal Welfare Board of India, Animal Protection Law summary (section 11, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960): https://www.iitk.ac.in/animalwelfare/data/Animal-Protection-Law-Summary-by-AWBI.pdf (accessed 12 November 2026)
- National Green Tribunal, order of 11 July 2017 in O.A. No. 384 of 2016, copy published by the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee: https://dste.py.gov.in/ppcc/pdf/Legal/Hon%E2%80%99ble%20NGT%20Orders/384%20of%202016%20dt.%2011.07.2017.pdf (accessed 12 November 2026)
- HinduTone Makar Sankranti 2027 date data (Drik Panchang ingress): Makar Sankranti 2027
Last reviewed: 12 November 2026.
Related guides
Share this with family and friends
Send it on WhatsApp, post it, or copy the link.
More from Festivals
- Sakraat and Magha Saaji: Makar Sankranti in Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh
- Uttarayani and Ghughutiya: Makar Sankranti in Uttarakhand
- Magh Bihu in Assam: Uruka, Meji, Pitha and the Customs of Bhogali Bihu
- Poush Sankranti in West Bengal: Pithe-Puli, Gangasagar, Tusu and the Kenduli Fair
- Uttarayan in Gujarat: Kites, Food, Bird Safety and the Manja Ban
