Dairy Demand to Spike for Makar Sankranti Festival
As Makar Sankranti approaches, India’s dairy industry — especially in Bihar and neighbouring regions — is gearing up for a significant seasonal surge in demand for milk, curd and related dairy products, driven by the festival’s traditional food customs and rituals.
Dairy producers and processors are preparing for higher consumption of staple dairy items like milk and curd, used widely in festive foods such as dahi-chura (curd with flattened rice), tilkut (sesame and jaggery sweets) and other celebratory dishes. Local dairy supply chains are adjusting inventories and logistics to meet expected demand peaks.
In Bihar, dairy industry estimates suggest **curd consumption could rise to around 11 lakh kg this year, up from about 8.5 lakh kg last year, while **milk sales are projected to reach 35–36 lakh kg, compared with **33.5 lakh kg previously; tilkut and paneer sales are also expected to expand ~20 % year-on-year, boosting festive economic activity across districts such as Patna, Vaishali and Saran.
The seasonal celebration is traditionally associated with dairy-rich foods, and this year’s preparations reflect not only cultural demand but tangible revenue potential, with dairy and confectionery sales during the festival period anticipated to contribute tens of crores of rupees to local markets. (turn0search18; historic data shows similar patterns with high curd and milk sales during Sankranti cycles).
The surge highlights how festive traditions continue to shape dairy consumption cycles in India, giving processors and cooperative unions clear signals for supply planning, stock buildup and distribution strategies to capture peak seasonal demand.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Jan 12th 2026 TOI