Makar Sankranti 2026
Makar Sankranti 2026 falls on in Delhi, India (solar sankranti, computed for local coordinates).
Dates are computed for Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
About Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti marks the sun’s entry into Makara (Capricorn), the only Hindu festival fixed by the solar calendar and therefore always around 14 January. From this day the days begin to lengthen in the northern hemisphere.
It is a festival of sesame and jaggery — til-gud laddoos are exchanged with the words ’take the sweet, speak sweetly’. The day is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri falls on its eve in Punjab, and kite-flying fills the skies of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Holy dips at the Gangasagar and Prayagraj draw millions.
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Day details for
| Tithi at sunrise | Krishna Ekadasi |
|---|---|
| Tithi window | 15:19 (-1 day) – 17:53 |
| Nakshatra | Anuradha |
| Sunrise | 07:15 IST |
| Sunset | 17:45 IST |
| Moonrise | 03:29 |
| Moonset | 13:48 |
| Madhyahna (local noon) | 12:30 |
| Pradosh Kaal (2 Muhurta after sunset) | 17:45 – 19:21 |
| Nishita Kaal (8th of 15 night divisions) | 00:03 (+1 day) – 00:57 (+1 day) |
All times are for Delhi, India (IST). The festival-specific observance anchor for this page is solar sankranti, computed for local coordinates.
Year comparison
| Year | Date | Weekday | Tithi at sunrise (window) | Dating anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday | 15:19 (-1 day) – 17:53 | solar sankranti, computed for local coordinates | |
| 2027 | Thursday | 13:02 (-1 day) – 13:59 | solar sankranti, computed for local coordinates |
Other years
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Methodology and reference
Dates on this page are computed astronomically — sidereal solar and lunar longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — and dated by the classical rules of Dharmasindhu and Muhurta Chintamani (Udaya Tithi, Pradosh-vyapini and Aparahna conventions as applicable). Every value is regression-checked against Rashtriya Panchang, the official almanac compiled by Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) in Kolkata; the full method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?
- Makar Sankranti 2026 falls on Wednesday, 14 January 2026 in Delhi, India (solar sankranti, computed for local coordinates).
- What is Makar Sankranti?
- Makar Sankranti marks the sun’s entry into Makara (Capricorn), the only Hindu festival fixed by the solar calendar and therefore always around 14 January. From this day the days begin to lengthen in the northern hemisphere.
- How is Makar Sankranti observed?
- It is a festival of sesame and jaggery — til-gud laddoos are exchanged with the words ’take the sweet, speak sweetly’. The day is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri falls on its eve in Punjab, and kite-flying fills the skies of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Holy dips at the Gangasagar and Prayagraj draw millions.
- Why might Makar Sankranti fall on a different day elsewhere?
- Observance dates follow the tithi current at local sunrise, so cities with different sunrise times can observe a day earlier or later. Vaishnava calendars also shift dates when a tithi touches no sunrise (kshaya).