In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Makar Sankranti is popularly known as:

In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Makar Sankranti is popularly known as Khichdi (or Khichdi Parv). It is celebrated in mid-January, when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara), marking the beginning of its northward journey (Uttarayana) and the end of the coldest part of winter.

The festival gets its name from khichdi, a simple and nourishing dish made by cooking rice and lentils (dal) together, which is eaten and offered on this day. The dish is made from the newly harvested rice and pulses, and it is often served with ghee, curd, papad, pickle and chokha. People also eat sweets made of sesame (til) and jaggery, such as tilkut, til ke ladoo and gajak, which are believed to keep the body warm in winter. In Bihar, people eat chura-dahi (flattened rice with curd) and jaggery on this day.

An important part of the festival is the holy bath. Lakhs of devotees take a dip in the Ganga and other sacred rivers, especially at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, where the Magh Mela begins around this time. After the bath, people give charity, especially uncooked khichdi (rice and lentils), sesame, jaggery, blankets and warm clothes, to the poor and to priests.

In Gorakhpur, a famous Khichdi Mela is held at the Gorakhnath temple, where devotees offer khichdi to Guru Gorakhnath, the founder of the Nath sect of yogis. Kite flying is also popular in many cities.

Makar Sankranti has different names in different states: Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Pedda Panduga (Andhra Pradesh), Maghi and Lohri (Punjab), Uttarayan (Gujarat), Bhogali Bihu (Assam), Tirmoori (Sindhis) and Sakraat (Odisha).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Pedda Panduga is the name of Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh.
• ✗Maghi is the name of Makar Sankranti in Punjab.
• ✗Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu celebrated at the same time.