The festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

People prepare ‘Makar Chaula,’ a dish made with newly harvested rice, sesame, molasses, jaggery, rasagola, banana, coconut, dry fruits, cheese and puddings. ‘Makar Chaula’ is also offered as a special ‘bhoga’ to Lord Jagannath, with roots traced back to the sage Kashyap’s observations according to the Skanda Purana.