Top 5 Makar Sankranti Food Items You Must Try

Makar Sankranti is also known as Uttarayan in various parts of India. This colorful festival is celebrated with immense joy and food plays a major role. It is celebrated on January 14 or 15, every year, and is a culturally important day that marks the sun’s entry into Capricorn. The festival is very important for agriculture and most of the society throughout the country. Families and communities gather around the nation to cook and share a wide range of traditional foods that individually capture the tastes and culinary traditions of that region. Continue reading to know about the best Makar Sankranti food items, which range from sweet to savory and are a vital component of the celebrations. 

Delicious Chikki

Chikki is a delicious snack filled with warmth and sweetness. It is a traditional snack popularly made during Makar Sankranti in Ahmedabad. This is made from jaggery, a more nutritious alternative to refined sugar. It combines ingredients such as peanuts, sesame seeds, or various dry fruits into a crunchy, sweet culinary delight. This traditional sweet snack gives a sense of authenticity, in addition to giving kite flyers an energy boost. For a real culinary experience, visitors boarding flights to Ahmedabad during the Sankranti holiday should try different kinds of Chikki. Its flavorful and crunchy texture makes it a popular choice for both locals and tourists, perfectly expressing taste and the festive vibe.

Khichdi

In India, especially in the north, Makar Sankranti is often associated with a warm bowl of khichdi. This tasty and wholesome dinner is made by cooking rice with a variety of lentils, fresh vegetables, and a mix of spices. It is easy to digest, light and signifies a fresh start for the upcoming year. 

Pongal

Makar Sankranti is also called Pongal in a few regions of south India, particularly Tamil Nadu. This traditional dish that gives the festival its name, Pongal, is among the best Makar Sankranti food items. Made with freshly harvested grains, aromatic spices, and lentils, this is a delightful rice meal. The mix of unique flavor and aroma produced by heating the dish with the herb seeds is what makes Pongal so tempting. During this festival, a sweeter version of Pongal cooked with jaggery is also served as dessert.

Also Read: Irresistible Indian Sweets and Desserts

Til Poli

Til Poli is a delicious dish made during Makar Sankranti, often referred to as Ellu Poli in some places. This wheat flour flatbread is stuffed with a blend of grated coconut, roasted sesame seeds, and jaggery. This delectable mix is then wrapped in wheat flour dough, resulting in a delicious sweet dish. It expresses the festival’s warmth while also tasting wonderful. Til Poli is a popular and must-try of the many Makar Sankranti sweets because of its unique taste and flavor.

Undhiyu

Gujarat’s undhiyu is a delicious delight that reflects the essence of the winter harvest with its colorful blend of vegetables. This traditional recipe creates a symphony of senses that satisfy your stomach with seasonal vegetables like green beans, purple yam, brinjal, and raw bananas. Fenugreek, mustard, and cumin are just a few spices that give Undhiyu its unique flavor. It is usually made in a clay pot and cooked slowly. This cooking process releases a fragrant aroma that fills the air. Because of the rich flavor that this cooking process adds, Undhiyu is a real star dish during the Makar Sankranti festival.

Makar Sankranti is a festival where one can enjoy all the different and mouth-watering food that comes along with the celebrations, in addition to the traditional customs. These Makar Sankranti food items offer a delicious journey through an array of Indian flavors, whether you favor savory or sweet dishes. Enjoy the delicious sweets made during this auspicious festival and experience the warmth of the season. Comment down where you want to visit in India to experience these festival celebrations and also which food item you are craving.