Makar Sankranti is a major festival of Hindu religion, celebrated with great enthusiasm every year around 14 January. On this day, the Sun enters Capricorn from Sagittarius, which is called Makar Sankranti. This is also a sign of the Sun becoming Uttarayan, which means that the Sun will now move towards the north and the days will start getting longer. This festival falls in the Shukla Paksha of Pausha month of the Hindu calendar. Keep in mind the date of Makar Sankranti in 2026.
Makar Sankranti will be celebrated in 2026 on Wednesday, January 14. The exact time of Sankranti on this day will be 15:13 pm. The auspicious period of Makar Sankranti will be from 15:13 to 17:45, which is a total of 2 hours 32 minutes. At the same time, Maha Punya Kaal will be from 15:13 to 16:58, whose duration will be 1 hour 45 minutes.
In Tamil Nadu it is known as Pongal. In Gujarat it is called Uttarayan. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar it is celebrated as Khichdi festival. In Punjab, Lohri is celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti. In Assam it is known as Magh Bihu.
On this day, sesame and jaggery laddus, gajak and rewari are distributed. People give special importance to charity, especially sesame seeds, jaggery, blankets and clothes are donated. Bathing in holy rivers, especially in the Ganga, has great importance. Kite flying is also enjoyed on this occasion.
