Makar Sankranti 2026: date and puja muhurat
The day the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara), the start of its northward course (Uttarayana) in tradition.
Dates and times for New Delhi, India
Makar Sankranti 2026
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
The Sun enters Capricorn at 15:07
Makar Sankranti 2027
Friday, 15 January 2027
The Sun enters Capricorn at 21:10
Makar Sankranti dates 2026–2030
| Year | Date and muhurat |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, 15 January 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, 15 January 2028 |
| 2029 | Sunday, 14 January 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, 14 January 2030 |
Computed for New Delhi. Change the city above for your own.
Makar Sankranti 2026 in major cities
| City | Date and muhurat |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Mumbai | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Kolkata | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Chennai | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Bengaluru | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Hyderabad | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Pune | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Ahmedabad | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
The date is usually the same across India; the muhurat times differ with each city's sunrise and sunset.
What it is
The day the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara), the start of its northward course (Uttarayana) in tradition. The Sun's move into Makara is welcomed as a turn towards longer, brighter days, and as a harvest festival across India.
Why it matters
One of the few Hindu festivals fixed by the Sun, not the Moon, so it falls on almost the same date every year. It is a thanksgiving for the harvest and a welcome to longer days.
How it is traditionally kept
A morning bath, offerings to the Sun, sesame and jaggery sweets shared with family and neighbours, kite flying in many states, and giving to those in need.
- Take an early bath — in a river where possible
- Offer water (arghya) to the Sun at sunrise
- Make and share sweets of sesame (til) and jaggery
- Fly kites in the open air
- Give grain, sesame or warm clothes to those in need
Across India
Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri the evening before in Punjab, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Bihu (Magh Bihu) in Assam and Khichdi in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Questions
When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?
Makar Sankranti is on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, computed for New Delhi.
When is Makar Sankranti in 2027?
Makar Sankranti is on Friday, 15 January 2027, computed for New Delhi.
What is Makar Sankranti?
The day the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara), the start of its northward course (Uttarayana) in tradition. The Sun's move into Makara is welcomed as a turn towards longer, brighter days, and as a harvest festival across India.
How is Makar Sankranti traditionally kept?
A morning bath, offerings to the Sun, sesame and jaggery sweets shared with family and neighbours, kite flying in many states, and giving to those in need.
When is Makar Sankranti in 2028?
Saturday, 15 January 2028. Computed for New Delhi. Change the city above for your own.
When is Makar Sankranti in 2029?
Sunday, 14 January 2029. Computed for New Delhi. Change the city above for your own.
When is Makar Sankranti in 2030?
Monday, 14 January 2030. Computed for New Delhi. Change the city above for your own.
How is Makar Sankranti celebrated across India?
Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri the evening before in Punjab, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Bihu (Magh Bihu) in Assam and Khichdi in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
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