Makar Sankranti

Significance

Makar Sankranti marks the Sun's sidereal transit into the sign of Capricorn (Makara) and, with it, the start of the Sun's northward journey (Uttarayana) -- traditionally considered an auspicious half of the year for spiritual undertakings. Unlike most festivals in this calendar, it is a solar (not lunar) event, which is why it falls on a nearly fixed date each year rather than drifting the way tithi-based festivals do. It is celebrated across India under different names -- Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayan, Bihu -- with the common thread being the Sun entering Capricorn.

Muhurat & Timing

Because the Sankranti moment itself can fall late in the day, the festival is observed on whichever date has daylight (Punya Kaal) after the transit. For 2027, the Sun crosses into sidereal Capricorn at 9:14 PM on January 14 -- after sunset -- so the festival and its Punya Kaal window (7:15 AM-5:46 PM) are observed the next day, January 15.

Date verification: Verified against drikpanchang.com's Makar Sankranti page for New Delhi: Sankranti moment 9:14 PM Jan 14, 2027; observed festival date Jan 15, 2027 (Punya Kaal 7:15 AM-5:46 PM).