Makar Sankranti 2026: Date, Auspicious Timings, Significance, and Rituals Revealed

• Makar Sankranti 2026 will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 14, marking the Sun's entry into Capricorn (Makar).
• The festival follows the solar calendar, ensuring it falls on the same date annually, unlike many lunar-based Hindu festivals.
• Punya Kaal, the most auspicious period for rituals, begins shortly after the Sankranti moment at 3:13 PM on January 14.
• Key rituals include holy dips in rivers, temple visits, sharing Til-Gur sweets, and kite flying in regions like Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• Known by various names across India (Lohri, Pongal, Poush Sankranti), it symbolizes harvest, fresh beginnings, and the Sun's northward movement (Uttarayana).

Why It Matters: Makar Sankranti 2026 on Jan 14 celebrates harvest, new beginnings, and the Sun's auspicious northward journey.