Makar Sankranti, Lohri and Pongal Gifts: What to Give in January 2027
Quick answer
The traditional gifts for Makar Sankranti, Lohri and Pongal are vessels, sweets and anything symbolising warmth. A brass or kansa vessel is the most appropriate non-food gift, because Pongal is cooked in a new pot and Sankranti marks the sun's return. Makar Sankranti 2027 falls on Thursday, 14 January, with Lohri the evening before.
What are these festivals, and when are they in 2027?
They are the same astronomical event celebrated under different names: the sun's entry into Capricorn, the end of the coldest stretch, and the start of the harvest. It is one of the few Indian festivals fixed to the solar calendar, which is why the date barely moves.
| Festival | Where | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Lohri | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal | Wednesday 13 January (evening bonfire) |
| Makar Sankranti | North, West and Central India | Thursday 14 January |
| Magh Bihu / Bhogali Bihu | Assam | Mid-January, around 14–15 January |
| Pongal | Tamil Nadu | Four days from around 13–14 January |
| Uttarayan | Gujarat — the kite festival | 14 January |
| Poush Sankranti | West Bengal | 14 January |
A note on precision: Makar Sankranti depends on the exact moment of solar ingress, and some almanacs place it on 15 January in certain years. Pongal dates also vary by regional almanac. If the gift involves travel or a specific puja, check a panchang for the recipient's region rather than relying on a single national date.
Why are vessels the traditional gift?
Three reasons converge, which is why this is one of the clearest gifting conventions in the Indian calendar:
- Pongal is named after a pot. The dish is cooked in a new clay or brass pot and allowed to boil over — pongal means “to boil over” — as a symbol of abundance. A new vessel is therefore functional, not just symbolic.
- Harvest means abundance. Something that holds food reads correctly.
- Daan (giving) is central to Sankranti. Traditionally til, jaggery, grain, blankets and vessels are given, particularly to those who need them.
The second theme is warmth — these are mid-winter festivals. Blankets, woollens, til and gur, and anything that makes a home feel warmer all fit the occasion.
Gifts under ₹1,500
- A brass tumbler (from ₹1,400) — the simplest correct answer. A vessel, on a vessel festival. Sizes in our brass tumbler buying guide.
- Brass dessert spoons, set of four (₹1,400) — for the til laddoos and chikki everyone is handing around.
- A soy wax candle (₹1,100) — warmth, literally. Choose a warm amber or spice rather than a fresh citrus for January.
- A brass candle holder (₹800) — pairs with the candle for a complete gift under ₹2,000.
- Til, gur and chikki in a brass or ceramic bowl — the traditional food gift, presented in something that stays after the sweets are gone. This is the best-value idea on the page.
Gifts from ₹1,500 to ₹4,000
- A 200ml reed diffuser (₹1,800) — warm woods and ambers suit a closed-up winter house, where windows stay shut and the air goes stale.
- A brass keepsake box (₹2,400) — neutral, useful, and appropriate for an in-law or a senior relative.
- A handcrafted brass dessert bowl (from ₹3,200) — a serving vessel, which is the most on-theme category there is.
- A brass table bell (₹2,800) — for the mandir, and fitting for a festival with a morning puja.
- A matte brass tumbler set (from ₹1,200) — a set reads as more generous than a single piece at a harvest festival.
Gifts above ₹4,000
- A curated fragrance gift box (₹4,800) — arrives presented, needs no wrapping, and covers a range of taste. The easiest single decision if you are short on time.
- A brass pooja thali set (₹4,900) — there is a Sankranti morning puja, so this gets used on the day.
- A brass urli (from ₹6,200) — a house gift rather than a personal one, good from a family gifting jointly.
- A kansa dinner set (₹7,500) — bell metal, the traditional eating alloy, and a proper heirloom purchase for a milestone year or a new home.
Who gets what
| Recipient | Budget | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbours | ₹300–₹800 | Til and gur in a small bowl |
| Colleagues | ₹800–₹1,500 | A candle, a small diffuser, chikki in a presented box |
| Friends | ₹1,500–₹3,000 | Brass drinkware, a diffuser, a keepsake box |
| In-laws and senior relatives | ₹2,500–₹5,000 | A pooja thali, a serving piece, a fragrance box |
| Parents | ₹3,000–₹8,000 | Kansa or brass serveware; a warm blanket alongside |
| A new home in the family | ₹5,000+ | Urli, dinner set, or a full thali set |
Regional notes worth getting right
- Lohri (Punjab): the gift tradition centres on the bonfire evening, and sweets — gajak, rewri, gur, popcorn, peanuts — are shared rather than formally gifted. A first Lohri after a wedding or a birth is a bigger occasion, and a substantial gift is appropriate then.
- Pongal (Tamil Nadu): a new pot is genuinely used, so vessels are the most fitting gift of all. Sugarcane, turmeric with leaves intact, and new clothes are also traditional.
- Makar Sankranti (Maharashtra): tilgul — til and jaggery — is exchanged with the phrase tilgul ghya, god god bola. Married women give haldi kunku and small gifts, often vessels or household items.
- Uttarayan (Gujarat): kites dominate. A gift for the day often means kites and manja, but a household gift still lands well.
- Magh Bihu (Assam): feasting and community bonfires; food and serving pieces fit naturally.
If you are gifting across regions, a brass or kansa vessel is the safe universal choice — it is traditional in every one of these versions of the festival.
What to avoid
- Sharp items. Knives and scissors are traditionally avoided as festival gifts.
- Black items. Avoided by convention — though note that in Maharashtra black clothing is specifically worn on Sankranti for warmth, so this applies to gifts rather than dress.
- More sweets, as the whole gift. Every household already has four boxes of til laddoo by the 14th. Present a small amount in a vessel instead.
- Anything summer-themed. Fresh citrus candles and light linens read wrong in mid-January.
- A bare gift card. Fine paired with something physical; thin alone. Our gift cards start at ₹1,000.
- Leather, in a household you do not know well.
When to send
- Order online by 5 January 2027 — the first week of January is a backlog week after New Year deliveries.
- Deliver 11–13 January so it arrives before Lohri and Sankranti rather than during.
- Corporate and client gifts: send with the New Year wishes in late December instead, and keep Sankranti for personal gifting. Our client gifting etiquette guide covers the timing conventions.
- For a first Lohri or first Sankranti after a wedding, send early and gift generously — these are treated as significant occasions.
For the rest of the year's gifting calendar, see New Year gift ideas and Diwali gift ideas.
Frequently asked questions
When is Makar Sankranti in 2027?
Makar Sankranti 2027 falls on Thursday, 14 January. Lohri is celebrated the evening before, on 13 January, and Pongal runs over four days from around the 13th. Because the festival tracks the sun's entry into Capricorn, some almanacs place it on 15 January in certain years — check a panchang for your region if timing matters.
What is traditionally gifted on Makar Sankranti?
Til and jaggery sweets, vessels, blankets and woollens, and grain. In Maharashtra, tilgul is exchanged with the phrase tilgul ghya, god god bola. The two themes are abundance from the harvest and warmth in midwinter.
Why are vessels given as Pongal and Sankranti gifts?
Pongal is named after the act of boiling over, and the dish is cooked in a new pot as a symbol of abundance — so a new vessel is functional on the day, not just symbolic. Giving vessels is also part of the daan tradition central to Sankranti.
What is a good Makar Sankranti gift under ₹2,000?
A brass tumbler, a set of brass dessert spoons, or a warm-scented soy candle with a brass holder. The best-value option is til, gur and chikki presented in a brass or ceramic bowl — the sweets are traditional and the bowl stays afterwards.
What should you not gift on Makar Sankranti or Lohri?
Sharp items such as knives and scissors, black-coloured gifts, and leather in a household you do not know well. Also avoid more boxes of sweets as the entire gift — most households have several by the 14th.
What is the difference between Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Pongal?
They mark the same astronomical event — the sun entering Capricorn and the end of the coldest period — under regional names. Lohri is Punjabi and centres on a bonfire the evening before; Makar Sankranti is observed across north, west and central India; Pongal is the four-day Tamil harvest festival.
What do you gift for a first Lohri after a wedding or birth?
A substantially larger gift than usual, as first Lohri is treated as a significant occasion. A full kansa or brass dinner set, a pooja thali set or an urli are all appropriate, and are usually given by the bride's family or close relatives.
Is it appropriate to gift colleagues for Makar Sankranti?
Yes, kept modest — ₹800 to ₹1,500 per head. A candle, a small diffuser, or chikki presented in a box all work. For corporate and client gifting, late December with New Year wishes is usually the better slot.
Which fragrance suits January and the Sankranti season?
Warm woods, amber, oudh and spice. Mid-January in most of India means closed windows and stale indoor air, which heavier base notes handle far better than fresh citrus or light florals. See our seasonal fragrance guide for the full breakdown.
When should I order Makar Sankranti gifts online?
By around 5 January 2027, for delivery between 11 and 13 January. The first week of January carries a backlog from New Year deliveries, so ordering later risks arrival after the festival.
Is brass or kansa the better Sankranti gift?
Both are traditional. Kansa is copper and tin with no zinc, which makes it less reactive and the recommended metal to eat from, so it suits a dinner set or eating vessel. Brass is better for serving pieces, drinkware and decor, and costs less.
Can I give the same gift for Sankranti, Pongal and Lohri?
Yes. A brass or kansa vessel is traditional in every regional version of the festival, which makes it the safe universal choice when gifting across different parts of India.