Makar Sankranti and Sesame: The Food Tradition Behind Til

The tradition

• Til-gud, sesame combined with jaggery, is the signature combination eaten and gifted during Makar Sankranti across much of North and West India.
• Til laddu and chikki are the most common forms this takes, both built on the same core pairing of sesame and jaggery.
• The custom is tied to a long standing belief that sesame's warming quality suits the winter timing of the festival.
• The phrase exchanged while sharing til-gud sweets, roughly translating to eat sweet and speak sweet, reflects the goodwill the tradition carries.
• Regional variations exist in exactly which sweet is made, though sesame and jaggery remain the constant across nearly all of them.

Our standards

Makar Sankranti til questions

What does til-gud mean?

Til means sesame and gud means jaggery. Together they name the sesame and jaggery sweets central to Makar Sankranti.

Why is sesame specifically eaten during this festival?

A long standing belief holds that sesame has a warming quality suited to the cold winter timing of Makar Sankranti.

Is til laddu only eaten during Makar Sankranti?

It is most strongly associated with this festival, though it is enjoyed at other times too, particularly in winter.

Does the tradition vary by region?

Yes, the specific sweet made varies by region, though sesame and jaggery remain the shared core across most versions.