Makara Sankranti is the most auspicious time to perform Punya snan (holy dip) in Sangam at Allahabad. Sangam is the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Lakhs of devotees throng to Sangam for Sankramana snan on Sankranti day.
Kumbh Mela also starts on Makara Sankranti day; hence the devotees come in large numbers. In 2017, on 14 January, more than a million devotees will perform holy dip in Sangam.
Food items made of Til (sesame) and Jaggery are offered as naivedya (food offerings) to Surya bhagwan. In 2017, on January 12 (Paush Poornima) the ‘kalpavaas’ (a month-long ritual of sadhus) begins in Sangam Prayag at Allahabad.