Sankranti Festival Snacks Across India: Traditional Flavors with Simple Recipes

Makar Sankranti is one of the few Indian festivals celebrated across the country, yet each state adds its own flavor to the festivities. Marking the harvest season and the sun’s journey into Capricorn, Sankranti is as much about gratitude as it is about food. Homes are filled with the aroma of jaggery, sesame seeds, rice, and freshly harvested grains. Let’s take a delicious journey across different Indian states and explore popular Sankranti snacks along with short, easy recipes that capture their traditional essence.

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh: Ariselu
Ariselu is a must-have Sankranti sweet in Telugu households. Made with rice flour and jaggery, these deep-fried delights are rich, chewy, and festive.
Short Recipe:

Soak rice, dry it, and grind into fine flour. Melt jaggery with a little water to make thick syrup. Mix rice flour into the syrup to form a soft dough. Flatten small portions, fry in ghee or oil until golden, and lightly press to remove excess oil.

Tamil Nadu: Sakkarai Pongal
Sankranti in Tamil Nadu is celebrated as Pongal, and the star snack is sweet Pongal made with rice, moong dal, jaggery, and ghee.
Short Recipe:

Cook rice and roasted moong dal together until soft. Add melted jaggery, cardamom, and a pinch of edible camphor. Finish with ghee-roasted cashews and raisins.

Karnataka: Ellu Bella
Ellu Bella is a simple yet meaningful Sankranti snack symbolizing harmony and sweetness in relationships.
Short Recipe:

Dry roast sesame seeds and peanuts. Mix with grated dry coconut, chopped jaggery, and roasted chana dal. Toss everything together and serve as a dry snack.

Maharashtra: Tilgul
In Maharashtra, Sankranti is synonymous with tilgul, exchanged with the famous saying encouraging sweet speech.
Short Recipe:

Roast sesame seeds lightly. Melt jaggery and mix it with sesame seeds. Shape into small laddus or coat sesame seeds with jaggery and allow to cool.

Gujarat: UndhiyuHandvo Bites
While Undhiyu is the main dish, snack versions like handvo bites are popular during Sankranti kite-flying celebrations.
Short Recipe:

Prepare handvo batter using mixed lentils, rice, vegetables, and spices. Pour into small molds and bake or shallow fry until crisp outside and soft inside.

Rajasthan: Ghewar
Ghewar is a festive favorite during winter celebrations including Sankranti.
Short Recipe:

Make a thin batter using flour and ghee. Pour slowly into hot ghee to create honeycomb texture. Fry till crisp and dip in sugar syrup or top with malai.

Uttar Pradesh and Bihar: Tilkut
Tilkut is a crunchy sesame and jaggery sweet, especially popular in Bihar.
Short Recipe:

Roast sesame seeds and grind coarsely. Heat jaggery till thick and mix sesame powder. Spread on a greased surface, flatten, cool, and cut into pieces.

Kerala: SharkaraVaratti
This crunchy snack brings spice into Sankranti celebrations in Kerala.
Short Recipe:

Fry cubed raw bananas until crisp. Toss in melted jaggery flavored with ginger, chili powder, cumin, and curry leaves until coated.

Assam: Pitha
Pitha varieties mark harvest festivals similar to Sankranti.
Short Recipe:

Mix rice flour with jaggery and coconut. Steam or pan-cook small cakes until soft and aromatic.

Conclusion
Sankranti snacks reflect India’s agricultural roots and regional diversity. Though ingredients may vary, the essence remains the same—celebrating harvest, sharing sweetness, and honoring tradition. These snacks are not just food; they are memories passed down through generations, bringing families together with every bite.

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