Makar Sankranti 2026: Donate for Prosperity, Resolve Father-Son Conflicts

• Makar Sankranti marks the Sun's entry into Capricorn (Shani's sign), signifying an astronomical event and the start of Uttarayan, considered 'the day of the gods'.
• The festival, celebrated on January 15, 2026, ends 'Kharmas' and ushers in auspicious activities, with chanting, penance, bathing, and donation yielding multiplied benefits.
• Donating black sesame seeds and jaggery on Makar Sankranti pleases both Sun and Shani, improving father-son relationships and career prospects, according to Pandit Ajay Pathak of Chandauli.
• Donating grains and clothes for ancestors frees one from ancestral debt, while Saptadhanya and blankets reduce the inauspicious effects of Rahu and Ketu.
• Known by various names like Pongal, Bihu, Lohri, and Poush Sankranti, the festival emphasizes worshipping the Sun, donating, and expressing gratitude to nature, with regional traditions like Khichdi in North India and sesame-jaggery ladoos in Maharashtra/Gujarat.

Why It Matters: Makar Sankranti 2026 emphasizes donations, ancestral blessings, and planetary appeasement for prosperity and harmony.