Makar Sankranti 2026मकर संक्रांति
Makar Sankranti 2026 is on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Why it follows the sun and not the moon, snan and dana, til and gud, kite flying, and how Pongal, Lohri and Bihu relate to it.
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The story of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is not set by the moon like most Hindu festivals, but by the sun: it is the day Surya leaves Dhanu and enters Makara, Capricorn, and turns north into Uttarayana. That is why its date barely moves, sitting on the fourteenth or fifteenth of January while every other festival travels across the calendar. The katha says Surya visits his son Shani on this day, and the coldness between father and son is set aside; so it is kept as a day for ending estrangements.
Uttarayana is held so auspicious that Bhishma, lying on his bed of arrows with the boon of choosing his death, waited for it before leaving his body. From this day the nights shorten and the light lengthens, the harvest is in, and the sky over Gujarat fills with kites from dawn until the paper lanterns rise after dark.
How Makar Sankranti is celebrated
| Snan and dana | a holy dip at dawn, at Prayagraj, Gangasagar or any river, followed by dana of til, gud, blankets and khichdi. |
| Til and gud | sesame and jaggery sweets are shared with the words til gud ghya, god god bola: take this and speak sweetly. |
| Surya puja | arghya of water with til is offered to the rising sun with the Gayatri or Surya mantras. |
| Patang | kite flying from sunrise, strongest in Gujarat and Rajasthan, where the sky is crowded all day. |
It is Pongal in Tamil Nadu over four days, Lohri in Punjab on the eve, Uttarayan and the kite festival in Gujarat, Bihu in Assam, Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh, Poush Sankranti in Bengal with the Gangasagar mela, and Maghi in Haryana and Himachal.
Makar Sankranti checklist: what to arrange in advance
The non-perishable samagri you can order ahead of the day. Each link opens an Amazon search for that item in your own country’s store.
Fresh items, flowers, fruit, sweets and leaves, are best bought from your local market on the day.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?
Makar Sankranti is on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
Why does Makar Sankranti fall on nearly the same date every year?
Because it follows the sun, not the moon. It marks the entry of Surya into Makara rashi, a solar event, so it stays on 14 or 15 January while lunar festivals move by weeks.
What is the punya kaal?
The hours around the sankranti moment are held best for snan and dana. The exact window depends on your city and the moment of transit, so check the daily Panchang for your local timing.
Why are til and gud eaten?
Both warm the body in deep winter, and the sharing carries a vow with it: to let the sweetness of the words outlast the season.
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Dates are verified against authoritative Panchang sources (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Traditions vary by family and region; for muhurat and puja vidhi please also consult your family panditji.