Makar Sankranti 2026: Date, Significance & Rituals
The harvest and Uttarayana festival
Makar Sankranti marks the day the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn) and begins its northward journey, known as Uttarayana. It is one of the few Hindu festivals fixed to the solar calendar, which is why it falls on roughly the same date — around 14 January — every year.
It is celebrated across India under many names — Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Maghi in Punjab, Magh Bihu in Assam — but everywhere it is a harvest festival and a turning point of the year towards longer, brighter days.
Makar Sankranti 2026 Date
Makar Sankranti 2026 is on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. It is a solar observance, marked by the Sun’s entry into Makara (Capricorn) — the start of Uttarayana.
Hindu festival dates follow the lunar calendar and can vary by a day between regions and traditions. Always confirm the date and timings with your local panchang.
The Significance of Makar Sankranti
Uttarayana, the Sun’s northward course, is considered a deeply auspicious period in Hindu tradition. It is regarded as the daytime of the gods, and many auspicious activities that pause during the southern course (Dakshinayana) resume after Makar Sankranti.
The festival also celebrates the harvest. The first crops of the season are gathered, and dishes made of newly harvested rice, sesame and jaggery are prepared and shared — a thanksgiving for the abundance of the land.
Sesame and jaggery sweets, called til-gud, carry a gentle social message: people exchange them with the words “til-gud ghya, god god bola” — take this sweet and speak sweetly — setting aside differences and renewing warmth as the new season begins.
Makar Sankranti Puja Vidhi
- Rise early and take a holy bath; bathing in a sacred river such as the Ganga on this day is considered especially meritorious.
- Offer arghya (water) to the Sun god, Surya, at sunrise while reciting the Gayatri mantra or Surya mantras.
- Prepare and offer dishes of newly harvested rice, sesame and jaggery to the deities before sharing them.
- Exchange til-gud sweets with family, neighbours and friends, exchanging good wishes for the year ahead.
- Give food, sesame, blankets or clothing in charity (daan) — Makar Sankranti is regarded as a highly auspicious day for giving.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?
Makar Sankranti in 2026 falls on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
Why does Makar Sankranti fall on the same date every year?
Makar Sankranti is one of the few Hindu festivals based on the solar calendar rather than the lunar one. It marks the Sun’s entry into Capricorn, a solar event, so it always falls around 14 January.
What is Uttarayana?
Uttarayana is the six-month period during which the Sun appears to move northward. It begins at Makar Sankranti and is considered a highly auspicious time in Hindu tradition.
What is Makar Sankranti called in other states?
It is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Maghi in Punjab, Magh Bihu in Assam and Khichdi in parts of Uttar Pradesh — all celebrating the same harvest and solar turning point.