The Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti is also known as Makara Sankranti. This festival is also known as Maghi, which is a festival day in the context of Sun God in the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated every year in January. This sacred festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated in India itself but also Nepal with great fanfare.

Makar Sankranti is one of the few ancient Indian festivals observed under solar chakras, while most of the festivals have been decided under the Chandra Chakra of the Hindu calendar. This festival is celebrated throughout the country on the same Gregorian date every year (January 14th), but in the leap year, this date may differ. Different names are known for the festivals associated with Makar Sankranti by North Indian Hindus and Sikhs such as Magahi or Lohri. In Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as (Pedda Pandwa), Sukhrata in Central India, Magh Bihubis in Assam, and Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as Pongal.

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Makar Sankrant 2026 Date and Time

The festival will be celebrated in January. But according to Vedic Hindu Astrology, the festival of 2026 Makar Sankranti will be valid  on  January 14, 2026.

Makar Sankranti Punya Kaal Muhurat 2026

Makar Sankranti 2026 date: 14th January 2026, Wednesday

Makar Sankranti 2026 Punya Kaal Muhurat From 08:30 am to 12:30 pm (Duration – 4 hours )

Makar Sankranti 2026 Maha Punya Kaal Muhurat From 09:00 am to 10:30 am (Duration – 1 hour 30 minutes)

Rituals of Makar Sankranti Festival 2026

Now let's talk about how Makar Sankranti is to be celebrated.  In the morning on Makar Sankranti, a bath should be taken with water mixed with till after getting up early in the morning. After this, clean the place where the puja will be performed after wearing good and clean clothes. Then on the ground, make an Asthadal Kamal (Octal lotus) with Karnika with sandalwood, and pray to the Sun God by invoking him. After this, it is considered very auspicious to pronounce the holy mantra of the sun god. Thus, bathing in the river on this day is also considered very sacred.

Significance of Sankranti 2026 Festival

If talking about the significance of the festival of Makar Sankranti, then it is considered that on this auspicious day, Sun God visits his son Shani Dev to meet him at his residence. It has also been said that Shani Dev is the ruling God of Capricorn. That is why this festival is known as Makar Sankranti.

According to some sources, in Mahabharata, the mighty Bhishma Pitamah had chosen Makar Sankranti on the day of his abdication from life.