Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival in Karnataka, celebrated with great joy and traditional fervor in January. It marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara), symbolizing prosperity and new beginnings. The festival is especially significant for farmers, who thank nature for a good harvest. Homes are decorated with colorful rangoli, and people wear new clothes. A special highlight of the celebration is Ellu-Bella, a mixture of sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, coconut pieces, and sugar candy, which is shared among family, friends, and neighbors as a symbol of harmony and goodwill. In many regions, cattle are beautifully decorated and worshipped, and kite flying, cultural activities, and festive foods add to the cheerful spirit of Makar Sankranti in Karnataka.
