Makar Sankranti 2026: Folk Songs And Festival Music That Define The Celebration

As the sun begins its northward journey and winter loosens its grip, Makar Sankranti arrives not just as a date on the calendar, but as a feeling,of renewal, harvest, community and light. Across India, the festival marks a shared cultural pause, where rooftops fill with kites, kitchens with jaggery and sesame, and the air with music that carries the warmth of the season.

Unlike many festivals driven by grand spectacle, Sankranti’s music is deeply rooted in folk traditions and everyday joy,songs sung on terraces, played on radios, and passed down through generations. From Gujarat’s Uttarayan to Tamil Nadu’s Pongal and Maharashtra’s Tilgul celebrations, these songs form the festival’s emotional backbone.

Gujarat: Where Kite Strings Meet Melody

In Gujarat, Sankranti,celebrated as Uttarayan,is inseparable from music. The soundscape of the festival blends folk rhythms with modern Bollywood anthems that capture the thrill of kite battles and open skies.

Few songs have captured this spirit as vividly as “Udi Udi Jaye” (Raees), which has become a contemporary Sankranti staple, echoing across terraces each January. The chant-like exuberance of “Kai Po Che!”,a phrase as competitive as it is celebratory,has long existed in folk tradition, later finding cinematic expression in films like Kai Po Che!. Tracks such as “Manjha” add a quieter, more reflective layer, capturing the emotional undercurrents of friendship and ambition beneath the festival’s surface energy.

Folk-inspired favourites like “Mor Bani Thanghat Kare” and “Dholi Taaro Dhol Baaje” further reflect Gujarat’s deep rhythmic heritage, where dance, celebration and community converge.

Maharashtra: Sweetness, Song and Togetherness

In Maharashtra, Sankranti is marked by the exchange of tilgul and the sentiment of “god god bola”,speak sweetly. The music here mirrors that warmth. Traditional Marathi folk songs, often sung during Haldi Kunku gatherings, celebrate womanhood, harvest and familial bonds.

Songs like “Navrai Majhi”,while cinematic,draw heavily from folk aesthetics, making them popular additions to modern Sankranti playlists. These tracks don’t aim for spectacle; they linger gently, much like the festival itself.

South India: Harvest in Harmony

In Tamil Nadu, where Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal, music becomes an expression of gratitude,to the sun, the earth and cattle. Traditional songs such as “Pongalo Pongal” and “Thai Pongalum Vandhadhu” are integral to the ritual, often sung collectively during early morning celebrations.

Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sankranti folk songs reflect agrarian life, community dances and seasonal abundance. The emphasis is less on performance and more on participation,music as a shared offering rather than a product.

Folk Meets the Contemporary

In recent years, folk-fusion tracks have played a crucial role in keeping Sankranti’s musical traditions alive for younger audiences. Platforms like Coke Studio have revived classics such as “Mor Bani Thanghat Kare” and “Chaap Tilak”, bridging generational gaps while retaining cultural authenticity.

What’s striking is how Sankranti music resists excess. Even its most popular tracks remain grounded,celebratory without being overwhelming, festive without losing intimacy.

A Festival Heard, Not Just Seen

Makar Sankranti’s songs don’t demand attention; they blend into lived moments,the twang of kite strings, the laughter of neighbours, the quiet satisfaction of a shared meal. They remind us that festivals don’t always need grand stages or booming speakers. Sometimes, they simply need the right song at the right moment, carried by the winter sun.

In a country as diverse as India, Sankranti’s music offers a rare cultural harmony,different languages, regions and rhythms, all tuned to the same emotion: hope, renewal and togetherness.

And as kites rise each year, so do these songs,familiar, comforting, and timeless.