Makar Sankranti 2026: Date, Meaning and Rituals Explained

Makar Sankranti 2026 will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 14, marking an important solar event in the Hindu calendar. The festival signifies the Sun’s transition into the Capricorn zodiac sign, ending winter and welcoming longer days. It is widely observed across India with prayers, charity, holy baths, and harvest celebrations.

Why in the News?

There was confusion whether Makar Sankranti 2026 falls on January 14 or 15. Astronomical calculations confirm January 14, 2026, with the Sankranti moment at 3:13 PM.

Makar Sankranti 2026: Date and Auspicious Time

Makar Sankranti in 2026 will be observed on January 14. According to traditional calendars, the Sun enters the Makara (Capricorn) zodiac sign on this day. The most auspicious period begins in the afternoon, making it ideal for charity, rituals, and spiritual activities.

Key Timings (Drik Panchang)

• Makara Sankranti Moment: 3:13 PM
• Punya Kala: 3:13 PM – 5:45 PM
• Maha Punya Kala: 3:13 PM – 4:58 PM

History and Significance of Makar Sankranti

• Makar Sankranti is one of the few Hindu festivals based on the solar calendar, giving it a fixed date every year.
• It marks Uttarayan, the northward journey of the Sun, which is considered highly auspicious.
• Traditionally, this phase symbolizes light, positivity, renewal, and spiritual progress, along with the start of a new agricultural cycle.

Makar Sankranti Names in Different States of India

Makar Sankranti is celebrated under various local names, each reflecting the culture, climate, and traditions of the region.

1) North & Central India

Maghi

In Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Maghi. People gather around bonfires, sing folk songs, and celebrate the harvest season together.

Lohri

Lohri is widely celebrated in Punjab and Haryana, usually on the night before Makar Sankranti. It marks the end of winter. People sing traditional songs and share sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn as symbols of warmth and gratitude.

Khichdi Parv

In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the festival is known as Khichdi Parv. On this day, people donate food, grains, and clothes, and khichdi is prepared and offered as part of religious rituals.

2) Western India

Uttarayan

In Gujarat and Rajasthan, Makar Sankranti is called Uttarayan, marking the Sun’s northward journey. Kite flying is a major attraction, and people prepare traditional sweets made of sesame and jaggery.

Makar Sankranti

In Maharashtra, the festival is known as Makar Sankranti. People exchange til-gud sweets and greet each other with the phrase “til-gud ghya, god-god bola,” symbolising harmony and sweetness in relationships.

3) Southern India

Pongal

In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal, a four-day harvest festival. The freshly harvested rice is cooked and offered to the Sun God as a mark of gratitude and prosperity.

Sankranti

In Karnataka, farmers celebrate Sankranti by exchanging sesame-jaggery sweets and sugarcane with neighbours and family members, symbolising joy and togetherness.

4) Eastern India

Magh Bihu

In Assam, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Magh Bihu. Communities come together to cook traditional meals, share food, and celebrate the first harvest of the year.

Makar Sankranti

In West Bengal, the festival is observed with prayers and rituals. Devotees take a holy dip at Gangasagar, while families prepare sweets made from rice flour, date palm jaggery, and coconut.

Why Do We Celebrate Makar Sankranti?

• The festival is celebrated to thank nature and the Sun for a successful harvest.
• It also represents the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
• People believe that good deeds done on this day bring long-term spiritual merit and positive karma, making it ideal for charity and social service.

Rituals and Celebrations

• On Makar Sankranti, devotees wake up early and take a holy dip in rivers such as the Ganga or Godavari. Special prayers are offered, and charity is given to the needy.
• People prepare til (sesame) and jaggery sweets, symbolizing unity and warmth.
• In many regions, kite flying and harvest festivities add joy to the celebrations.

Question

Q. Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into which zodiac sign?

A. Aries
B. Cancer
C. Capricorn
D. Pisces