Makara Sankranti in Odisha: Makara Chaula, Puri Temple Rituals, Melas and Customs
Quick answer: In Odisha, Makara Sankranti is the day of Makara Chaula, a raw preparation of newly harvested rice offered to the gods and then shared at home. At Puri the deities receive Makara Chaula and a special Makara Besha. Fairs called Makara Melas gather at temples and hot springs, friends bin
Quick answer: In Odisha, Makara Sankranti is the day of Makara Chaula, a raw preparation of newly harvested rice offered to the gods and then shared at home. At Puri the deities receive Makara Chaula and a special Makara Besha. Fairs called Makara Melas gather at temples and hot springs, friends bind lifelong "makar" friendships, and Cuttack fills its sky with kites.
Makara Sankranti 2027 in Odisha: key facts
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Makara Sankranti per the panchang | Friday 15 January 2027 |
| Odisha government holiday list (as reported) | Thursday 14 January 2027 |
| Moment the Sun enters Makara | 9:14 PM IST on Thursday 14 January 2027 (Drik Panchang) |
| Main offering | Makara Chaula (new rice with jaggery, coconut, fruit and other ingredients) |
| Main temple ritual | Makara Chaula offering and Makara Besha at the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri |
| Fairs | Makara Melas, for example at Atri (Khordha) and Kalijai island (Chilika lake) |
When is Makara Sankranti in Odisha in 2027?
The panchang places Makara Sankranti on Friday 15 January 2027. Odisha's 2027 holiday list, as reported, marks Makar Sankranti on Thursday 14 January. Across India, Makar Sankranti is 15 January per the panchang; some government lists mark 14 January.
The difference comes from timing. The Sun enters Makara at 9:14 PM IST on Thursday 14 January, after sunset, so most panchangs keep the festival on the next morning, while some official calendars keep 14 January. Odia households follow their own panjika, and the Puri temple follows its own almanac for its rituals. Check your family panjika and confirm with your local panchang or temple priest. For timings in other cities, see our Makar Sankranti 2027 guide.
What do the Odia names mean?
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Makara Sankranti (also spelt Makar Sankranti) | The Sun's passage into Makara (Capricorn) |
| Makara Chaula | "Makara rice", the festival preparation of new, uncooked rice |
| Makara Besha | The special attire of the Puri deities on the day |
| Makara Mela | A fair held on or around Makara Sankranti |
| Makar (as a friend) | A friend bound to you by the Sankranti friendship custom |
| Mahaprasad | Food offered to Lord Jagannath at Puri and shared as a blessing |
What is Makara Chaula?
Makara Chaula is the defining dish of Odisha's Sankranti. It is made from newly harvested rice that is soaked but not cooked, mixed with ingredients such as jaggery, grated coconut, banana, sugarcane pieces, chhena (fresh cheese), milk and black pepper. Recipes vary from family to family. An Argus News report describes a mix of soaked rice, jaggery, cheese, coconut paste, sugarcane pieces and pepper (Argus News); an OrissaPOST feature describes newly harvested uncooked rice with sesame, molasses and jaggery (OrissaPOST, 14 January 2021).
After an early bath, families offer Makara Chaula to the household deities and at local Shiva and village-goddess (grama devati) temples, and then eat it themselves (Argus News). Our Makara Chaula recipe gives one home method.
Allergen note: Makara Chaula usually contains dairy (milk, chhena) and often coconut; some families add nuts or sesame.
What happens at the Puri Jagannath temple?
At the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Makara Sankranti is marked with special rituals (niti). All India Radio reported in January 2026 that Makara Chaula was offered to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and the Digapalas (guardian deities), and that thousands of devotees had darshan of the deities in the special Makara Besha (All India Radio News, 14 January 2026).
Other reports add detail:
- The deities are dressed in what is called the Makara Chaurasi Besha (OrissaPOST, 14 January 2021; OdishaBytes).
- The Makara Chaula bhoga is carried around the temple by the sevaks (temple servitors) in a procession known as Makara Bedha (OdishaBytes).
The ritual order and timings are fixed each year by the temple. For 2027, check the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration's notices before planning a visit, and expect very large crowds on the day.
Which Makara Melas are held in Odisha?
Makara Melas are fairs held on or around Makara Sankranti at temples and sacred waters across the state. Verified examples:
| Place | District or area | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Atri, Hatakeshwar temple and hot spring | Khordha | Pilgrims bathe in the sulphur-rich hot spring and pray at the Hatakeshwar (Shiva) temple; the administration has built bathing pools for the fair (OrissaPOST, 12 January 2020). All India Radio reported large crowds at the hot spring on Makar Sankranti 2026 |
| Kalijai island | Chilika lake | The Odisha government's Odisha Review describes a large Makara Mela at the shrine of Goddess Kalijai, with special nitis on the day and a royal procession by boat from Parikud (Odisha Review, Feb–Mar 2012) |
| Dhabaleswar | Cuttack | Named among the Makara Mela sites by OrissaPOST (14 January 2021) |
| Makara Muni temple | Balasore | Named among the Makara Mela sites by OrissaPOST (same report) |
All India Radio also reported holy baths at Chandrabhaga beach, Konark, on Makar Sankranti 2026. Fair dates and arrangements are set locally each year; check the district administration's notices for 2027.
What is the makar friendship custom?
On Makara Sankranti, young people in Odisha, especially in western Odisha, take a friend for life in a simple ritual. The friends then call each other "makar", which in local usage means a bonded friend.
- Argus News reports that girls and boys make friends with others of the same sex on the day, and that this friend-making ritual is itself called "makar" (Argus News).
- OdishaBytes reports from Themera village in Sambalpur that friends who share Makara Chaula on the day become lifelong friends, or makar (OdishaBytes, 16 January 2020).
- OrissaPOST describes the custom in western Odisha as choosing a best friend, tying friendship laces and greeting each other with Mahaprasad from the Puri temple (OrissaPOST, 14 January 2021).
The details differ by district and community, so ask elders in your own family how it was done.
Where are kites flown in Odisha?
Cuttack is known for kite flying on Makara Sankranti, and it is also where the authorities have acted hardest against dangerous kite string. The Orissa High Court directed the Cuttack police in November 2016 to prohibit the sale and use of "Chinese" manja (synthetic, glass-coated thread); local reports link the thread to deaths and injuries in the city. The district administration has allowed kite flying only with cotton thread free of glass, metal and adhesives, and police have raided shops and manja makers before the festival (OdishaBytes; OrissaPOST). Nationally, the National Green Tribunal directed states in 2017 to prohibit synthetic manja.
Kite safety: cotton thread only; no flying near power lines or from unwalled rooftops; watch small children on terraces; and keep away from roads, where a loose string can injure riders.
How do tribal communities in Odisha keep the day?
Makara Sankranti is a major festival in the tribal and agricultural districts of northern Odisha, where it is often called Makar Parab and kept in each community's own way. OrissaPOST reports that the Kudumi community of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar keeps Tusu Parab as part of Makara Parab: young girls make a figure of the goddess Tusu, carry it around the village in procession with music, and immerse it in a river in the evening (OrissaPOST, 12 January 2020; OrissaPOST, 15 January 2020). The same feature on the festival lists Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Koraput, Keonjhar and Sundargarh among the districts where tribal communities join in (OrissaPOST, 14 January 2021).
The Santal, Ho, Munda and other communities have their own observances of the season. We have not described them here because we could not find detailed sources from the communities or from academic work; we will add them when we can.
What sets Odisha's Sankranti apart from its neighbours?
| Region | Name | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Odisha | Makara Sankranti | Makara Chaula of uncooked new rice; the Puri temple rituals; makar friendships |
| West Bengal | Poush Sankranti | Pithe-puli with nolen gur, Gangasagar, Tusu |
| Assam | Magh Bihu | The Uruka feast and the dawn Meji fire |
| Andhra Pradesh | Sankranti | Four days from Bhogi to Mukkanuma, muggulu and Haridasu |
Most of India cooks its Sankranti rice (pongal, khichdi, payesh). Odisha's signature dish is made from new rice that is soaked rather than cooked, and it is offered first to Lord Jagannath.
How do Odia families keep Makara Sankranti abroad?
Makara Chaula is easy to make abroad: soak new-crop rice (or any short-grain rice), and add jaggery, banana, coconut and milk. Chhena can be made at home from milk and lemon juice, or replaced with paneer or ricotta. Many families offer it at the home shrine in the morning and share it with friends, often on the nearest weekend. Odia associations in several countries hold gatherings in the season; check your local association's own website for its programme.
Frequently asked questions
When is Makara Sankranti in Odisha in 2027?
The panchang places it on Friday 15 January 2027. Odisha's 2027 holiday list, as reported, marks Thursday 14 January. Confirm with your family panjika or temple priest.
What is Makara Chaula made of?
It is newly harvested rice, soaked but not cooked, mixed with jaggery, coconut, banana and other ingredients such as chhena, milk, sugarcane, sesame or pepper. Recipes differ from family to family.
What happens at Puri on Makara Sankranti?
The deities are offered Makara Chaula and dressed in the special Makara Besha, and devotees come for darshan in large numbers. The temple fixes the ritual order each year, so check its notices for 2027.
What is the makar friendship?
On Makara Sankranti, young people in Odisha take a friend for life and call each other "makar". In some places the friends share Makara Chaula or Mahaprasad and tie friendship laces.
Where is the Makara Mela at Atri?
Atri is in Khordha district, at the Hatakeshwar temple and its hot spring. Pilgrims bathe in the spring and pray at the temple on Makara Sankranti.
Is kite flying allowed in Cuttack?
Kite flying is allowed, but the authorities ban Chinese or synthetic manja and permit only cotton thread. Follow the district administration's notice for 2027.
Sources
- Drik Panchang, Makar Sankranti 2027 moment (9:14 PM IST, Thursday 14 January) and observance (Friday 15 January), via HinduTone's date file, accessed 12 November 2026.
- Odisha government 2027 holiday list, Makar Sankranti Thursday 14 January 2027, as reported (secondary), via HinduTone's date file, accessed 12 November 2026.
- All India Radio News, "Makar Sankranti celebrated with traditional rituals across Odisha", 14 January 2026, https://www.newsonair.gov.in/makar-sankranti-celebrated-with-traditional-rituals-across-odisha, accessed 12 November 2026.
- Odisha Review (Government of Odisha), Dr Janmejay Choudhury, "Makar Mela at Kalijai Hill", Feb–Mar 2012, https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2012/Feb-March/engpdf/79-81.pdf, accessed 12 November 2026.
- OrissaPOST, Buddhadev Nandi, "Myriad hues of harvest fest", 14 January 2021, https://www.orissapost.com/myriad-hues-of-harvest-fest/, accessed 12 November 2026.
- OrissaPOST, "It's time for Makara Mela", 12 January 2020, https://www.orissapost.com/its-time-for-makara-mela, accessed 12 November 2026.
- OrissaPOST, "Tribals bracing up for Makar fest", 12 January 2020, https://www.orissapost.com/tribals-bracing-up-for-makar-fest, accessed 12 November 2026.
- OrissaPOST, "Makar Sankranti is celebrated as 'Tusu Parab' in this place", 15 January 2020, https://www.orissapost.com/382370-2, accessed 12 November 2026.
- OrissaPOST, "Cuttack administration bans 'Manja' kite thread", https://www.orissapost.com/cuttack-administration-bans-manja-kite-thread, accessed 12 November 2026 (search summary).
- Argus News, "Odisha celebrates Makar Sankranti in ritualistic way", https://argusenglish.in/odisha/odisha-celebrates-makar-sankranti-in-ritualistic-way, accessed 12 November 2026.
- OdishaBytes, Archana Mahapatra, "Hari-Hara Milan on Makar Sankranti symbolises lifelong friendship", 16 January 2020, https://odishabytes.com/hari-hara-milan-in-makar-sankranti-symbolises-lifelong-friendship-or-makar-between-people/, accessed 12 November 2026.
- OdishaBytes, "Lords at Puri Jagannath temple to don Makar Chaurasi Besha today", https://odishabytes.com/lords-at-puri-jagannath-temple-to-don-makar-chaurasi-besha-today/, accessed 12 November 2026 (search summary).
- OdishaBytes, "Makar Sankranti: special rituals performed at Jagannath temple in Puri", https://odishabytes.com/makar-sankranti-special-rituals-performed-at-jagannath-temple-in-puri, accessed 12 November 2026 (search summary).
- OdishaBytes, "Makar Sankranti: police to strictly enforce ban on Chinese manja for kite flying in Cuttack", https://odishabytes.com/makar-sankranti-police-to-strictly-enforce-ban-on-chinese-manja-for-kite-flying-in-cuttack/, accessed 12 November 2026 (search summary).
- National Green Tribunal, order of 11 July 2017 in O.A. 384 of 2016 (synthetic manja), copy at 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.
Last reviewed: 12 November 2026.
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