Makar Sankranti and Pongal Outfit Ideas 2027: Region by Region

For Makar Sankranti, wear a comfortable kurta set or saree you can spend a sunny day in, and choose the colour your region's tradition favours. In Maharashtra that often means black, worn for warmth on a winter day; for Pongal in Tamil Nadu, new clothes in yellow, green, red or cream are the norm. If you will be flying kites on a rooftop, pick a breathable cotton set with trousers or palazzos, flat shoes and a crossbody bag so both hands stay free.

Key takeaways

• Black is a regional Makar Sankranti tradition in Maharashtra, often explained by its warmth on a cold winter day; it is not worn everywhere.
• Pongal is celebrated with new clothes, and yellow, green, red and cream are the colours most people reach for.
• Thai Pongal falls on 15 January 2027; calendars differ on the exact day of Makar Sankranti, so check your local calendar.
• For rooftop kite flying, choose cotton, trousers or palazzos over a long flare, and a dupatta you can pin or leave behind.
• A crossbody sling keeps your phone and keys safe while both hands hold the string and the reel.
• A saree or a silk kurta set suits the puja and the family meal; switch to cotton for the afternoon on the terrace.

When are Makar Sankranti and Pongal in 2027?

Thai Pongal, the main day of Pongal, falls on Friday, 15 January 2027. Calendars we checked do not agree on the exact day of Makar Sankranti in 2027, because the sun's move into Capricorn comes close to nightfall, so the observance can shift by a day from one almanac to another. Check your local calendar or temple before you plan the day. Lohri, the Punjabi bonfire festival, falls on the night before, and we cover it in our Lohri outfit ideas.

Makar Sankranti and Pongal outfits by region

The same festival goes by different names across India, and what people wear changes with it. This table is a starting point, not a rule; your family's own tradition comes first.

Region	Festival name	What many people wear	Colours	Key moment
Maharashtra	Makar Sankranti	Black saree or kurta set; new brides often receive a black saree	Black with gold or bright borders	Exchanging tilgul, haldi-kunku gatherings
Gujarat	Uttarayan	Comfortable cotton kurta sets for a full day on the terrace	Bright colours, any shade	Kite flying from dawn to dusk
Tamil Nadu	Pongal (four days: Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal)	New clothes; sarees, half-sarees, silk or cotton sets	Yellow, green, red, cream with gold	Cooking pongal, drawing kolam
Karnataka	Sankranti	Silk or cotton sarees, kurta sets for younger women	Yellow, green, pink	Sharing ellu-bella
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana	Sankranti	Sarees and half-sarees, kurta sets	Bright silks, yellow and green	Muggulu at the door, kite flying in Hyderabad
Punjab	Lohri and Maghi	Patiala or sharara suits	Red, yellow, orange	Bonfire the night before
Assam	Magh Bihu	Traditional mekhela sador	Cream with red	Community feasts
West Bengal	Poush Sankranti	Sarees, kurta sets	Red and white, warm colours	Making pithe

Why do people wear black on Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra?

In most Hindu festivals black is avoided, which is why the Maharashtrian custom surprises people. Sankranti falls in one of the coldest weeks of the year, and the explanation most often given is practical: black absorbs heat from the sun and keeps you warmer outdoors. Some families also see it as marking the turn from the darkest part of winter towards longer days.

The custom is strongest in Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka. A new bride's first Sankranti is often celebrated with a black saree, sometimes with halwa jewellery made from sugar-coated sesame. If you are a guest at a haldi-kunku gathering, a black saree or kurta set with a bright border or gold work is a safe and welcome choice.

Black also works beautifully on its own terms. Lift it with a gold or zari border, red or pink jewellery, or a bright dupatta.

Black for Sankranti, in stock:

• The black floral zari saree at ₹2,999 has zari that lifts the black, ideal for a haldi-kunku or a new bride's first Sankranti.
• The black gotta patti kurta with sharara and dupatta at ₹1,530 is a festive silk blend set with three-quarter sleeves for an evening gathering.
• The black printed angrakha silk crepe kurta with trousers and dupatta at ₹1,189 is easier to wear for a full day, with trousers that suit a terrace.

What colour to wear for Pongal

Pongal is a harvest thanksgiving, and wearing new clothes on the main day is part of the tradition. Yellow is the colour most associated with it, echoing turmeric, which is tied around the pongal pot, and the ripe harvest. Green stands for the fields and new growth. Red, orange and cream with a gold border are just as common.

• Bhogi: the day before, when old things are cleared out. Simple cotton is practical for a busy household day.
• Thai Pongal: the main day, for new clothes, a saree or a festive kurta set, and the family meal.
• Mattu Pongal: honours cattle; comfortable cotton suits a day outdoors.
• Kaanum Pongal: family outings and visits, for a light, bright set you can walk in.

Yellow and green for Pongal, in stock:

• The mustard floral zari saree at ₹2,999 is a warm turmeric shade with zari, right for Thai Pongal morning.
• The yellow gotta patti silk crepe kurta with trousers and dupatta at ₹1,189 is an empire-waist set that is light enough to wear all day.
• The green thread work kurta with palazzos at ₹1,800 is a silk blend set for the puja and the family visits that follow.

Browse all kurta sets and sarees.

What to wear for kite flying on Sankranti

Kite flying fills rooftops across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Hyderabad and much of Maharashtra on Sankranti, often from early morning until the light goes. A rooftop is sunny, windy and busy, and the right outfit is about comfort first.

• Cotton, not silk. You will be in direct sun for hours, and cotton breathes. Save the silk saree for the puja.
• Trousers or palazzos. They let you climb stairs, step over string and move fast when a kite comes down. Long flares and saree pleats catch on parapets and string.
• A dupatta you can pin or leave. Wind lifts loose fabric, and kite string is sharp. Pin it across the body or leave it downstairs.
• Closed, flat shoes with grip. Terraces are uneven and dusty.
• Sunglasses and a cap for the glare when you are looking up all day.
• Hands free. A crossbody bag keeps your phone safe while you hold the string and the reel.

Rooftop wear, in stock:

• The green printed pure cotton kurta with palazzos and dupatta at ₹1,450 is breathable, washable and easy to move in.
• The green canvas sling bag at ₹2,078 has an adjustable strap, so it sits close to the body while you fly a kite.

One outfit, puja to rooftop

If you have one outfit for the whole day, choose a cotton or silk crepe kurta set with trousers. Wear it with the dupatta draped and your jewellery on for the morning puja and the meal, then fold the dupatta away, take off the heavier jewellery and swap to flats for the terrace. Our guide to five ways to wear a kurta set has more ideas for restyling one set across a day.

For sizing, compare your measurements with the size chart. Shipping is free over ₹799, and you have 7-day returns.

Related guides

• What to Wear to a Puja at Home or a Temple Visit
• What to Wear to a Gurudwara: Gurpurab 2026 Outfit Ideas
• What to Wear for Chhath Puja 2026: Outfits for All Four Days

Frequently asked questions

Why is black worn on Makar Sankranti?

In Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka, black is worn on Sankranti because it falls in one of the coldest weeks of the year, and black absorbs the sun's warmth. Some families also see it as marking the turn from the darkest days of winter towards longer ones. It is a regional custom rather than a rule across India.

What colour should I wear on Pongal?

Yellow is the colour most associated with Pongal, along with green, red, orange and cream with a gold border. New clothes on Thai Pongal are part of the tradition. Pick a bright, festive shade for the main day and simple cotton for Bhogi.

What should I wear for kite flying on Makar Sankranti?

Wear a breathable cotton kurta set with trousers or palazzos, flat closed shoes and sunglasses. Pin your dupatta across the body or leave it downstairs, as wind and kite string catch loose fabric. A crossbody bag keeps your hands free.

Can I wear a saree on Makar Sankranti?

Yes. A saree is a traditional choice for the puja, a haldi-kunku gathering or the family meal, especially a black saree in Maharashtra or a silk saree for Pongal. For rooftop kite flying, change into a kurta set with trousers, which is easier to move in.

What does a new bride wear on her first Makar Sankranti?

In Maharashtra, a new bride often wears a black saree on her first Sankranti, sometimes with jewellery made from sugar-coated sesame. In the south, a new silk saree in a bright colour is more usual. Follow your family's custom, as it varies from home to home.