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A bull is released into a crowd for Jallikattu, an ancient sport held during Pongal festival. AFP

A child dressed as Hindu deity Shiva during Makar Sankranti celebrations in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. AP

People fly kites during Makar Sankranti festival in Hyderabad, India. AP

Kites on display ahead of Makar Sankranti in Hyderabad. AP

A vendor arranges kites at a shop in Hyderabad. AFP

People shop for kites, to take part in good-natured kite-fighting competitions as part of Makar Sankranti celebrations. AP

Cattle are decorated and paraded through villages as part of a traditional practice believed to bring good fortune to the families who own them, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Bangalore. AFP

Villagers march along with their cattle through a village in Bangalore. AFP

Hindu devotees crowd the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to take a ritualistic bath during Makar Sankranti in Prayagraj. AP

Ganga Sagar Fair is an annual gathering of Hindu pilgrims during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganges River before it reaches the Bay of Bengal. EPA

An Indian monk applies tilak to devotees during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, about 130km south of Kolkata. EPA

Hindu priests perform rituals as pilgrims look on at the confluence of the Ganges River and the Bay of Bengal during the Ganga Sagar Mela. AFP

Poush Sankranti celebrations in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA

Fireworks and laser lights illuminate the sky during the Poush Sankranti celebration in Old Dhaka. EPA

Indian devotees perform a Ganga aarti ritual at Sagar Island. EPA

A devotee blows a conch shell at Sagar Island. EPA

Indian men bathe a cow in Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Pongal at Marina beach in Chennai, India. EPA

Gangireddu, a sacred decorated bull, is part of the celebrations. AP

A blessing ritual as part of the annual celebration. AP

Participants compete in a bout of traditional mud wrestling on Makar Sankranti, on the outskirts of Chandigarh. AFP

A Hindu devotee cooks Pongal, a traditional rice dish, at a temple in Colombo. AFP

Tamil women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal in Dharavi, Mumbai. AP

A participant tries to control a bull during the annual bull taming event Jallikattu in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. AFP

A bull is released into a crowd for Jallikattu, an ancient sport held during Pongal festival. AFP

A child dressed as Hindu deity Shiva during Makar Sankranti celebrations in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. AP

People fly kites during Makar Sankranti festival in Hyderabad, India. AP

Kites on display ahead of Makar Sankranti in Hyderabad. AP

A vendor arranges kites at a shop in Hyderabad. AFP

People shop for kites, to take part in good-natured kite-fighting competitions as part of Makar Sankranti celebrations. AP

Cattle are decorated and paraded through villages as part of a traditional practice believed to bring good fortune to the families who own them, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Bangalore. AFP

Villagers march along with their cattle through a village in Bangalore. AFP

Hindu devotees crowd the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to take a ritualistic bath during Makar Sankranti in Prayagraj. AP

Ganga Sagar Fair is an annual gathering of Hindu pilgrims during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganges River before it reaches the Bay of Bengal. EPA

An Indian monk applies tilak to devotees during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, about 130km south of Kolkata. EPA

Hindu priests perform rituals as pilgrims look on at the confluence of the Ganges River and the Bay of Bengal during the Ganga Sagar Mela. AFP

Poush Sankranti celebrations in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA

Fireworks and laser lights illuminate the sky during the Poush Sankranti celebration in Old Dhaka. EPA

Indian devotees perform a Ganga aarti ritual at Sagar Island. EPA

A devotee blows a conch shell at Sagar Island. EPA

Indian men bathe a cow in Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Pongal at Marina beach in Chennai, India. EPA

Gangireddu, a sacred decorated bull, is part of the celebrations. AP

A blessing ritual as part of the annual celebration. AP

Participants compete in a bout of traditional mud wrestling on Makar Sankranti, on the outskirts of Chandigarh. AFP

A Hindu devotee cooks Pongal, a traditional rice dish, at a temple in Colombo. AFP

Tamil women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal in Dharavi, Mumbai. AP

A participant tries to control a bull during the annual bull taming event Jallikattu in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. AFP

A bull is released into a crowd for Jallikattu, an ancient sport held during Pongal festival. AFP

How are the Indian festivals of Makar Sankranti and Pongal celebrated?

Known by various names, the celebration marking the end of winter is a major festival across India and beyond

January 15, 2024

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