Makar Sankranti 2026 Date Uttarayan Significance Surya Arghya Vidhi Bhishma Pitamah Legend Khichdi Parv Donation Makar Sankranti Punya Kaal Magh Bihu 2026 Pongal Festival Meaning Sun Worship Mantras Hindu Festival Calendar 2026

Makar Sankranti 2026: The Great Solar Shift (Uttarayan) & Puja Vidhi

AstroAnanta Team January 13, 2026 3 Min Read 181

Key Takeaway

Makar Sankranti 2026 Snapshot:
Date: January 14, 2026.
Punya Kaal (Auspicous Time): 03:13 PM onwards.
Maha Punya Kaal: 03:13 PM to 04:58 PM.
Significance: The Sun enters Capricorn (Makar Rashi), marking the end of the inauspicious "Kharmas" and the start of the holy "Uttarayan" period.
Key Ritual: Bathing in holy water and donating Khichdi/Sesame (Til).

Devotee offering Arghya to Sun God on Makar Sankranti with Til and Jaggery.

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious festivals in Sanatan Dharma, marking the transition of the Sun into Capricorn (Makar Rashi). It symbolizes the balance between nature and human life. Whether you call it Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Uttarayan (Gujarat), or Magh Bihu (Assam), the core spirit remains the same: Worship of the Sun & Charity.

🇮🇳 Essence: नाम चाहे अलग हों, लेकिन इस पर्व का मूल भाव एक ही है — सूर्य देव की उपासना और दान-पुण्य करना।

📅 2026 Date & Shubh Muhurat

FESTIVAL DATE

Wednesday, 14th January 2026

Punya Kaal (Good)
03:13 PM onwards

Maha Punya Kaal (Best)
03:13 PM to 04:58 PM

*Donations made during Maha Punya Kaal yield 100x benefits.*

🕉️ Significance: The Door to Moksha

The Uttarayan Shift:
This day marks the end of the inauspicious "Kharmas" month. The Sun begins its journey towards the North (Uttarayan), which is considered the "Day of the Gods." It is a time for spiritual awakening and purification.

The Legend of Bhishma Pitamah:
In the Mahabharata, the great warrior Bhishma Pitamah lay on a bed of arrows, waiting specifically for this day to leave his body. It is believed that dying during Uttarayan opens the gates to Moksha (Salvation).

🇮🇳 Mythology: भीष्म पितामह ने उत्तरायण काल की प्रतीक्षा करते हुए अपने प्राण त्यागे थे, क्योंकि यह काल मोक्ष प्राप्ति के लिए श्रेष्ठ है।

🙏 Puja Vidhi: How to Worship

Step 1: The Holy Bath (Snan)
Wake up during the Brahma Muhurat. Bathing in rivers like Ganga or Yamuna is ideal. If at home, mix some Gangajal and Sesame (Til) in your bath water. Chant this purification mantra:

"Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Saraswati |
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru ||"

Step 2: Surya Arghya (Offering)
Wear clean clothes. Take a copper vessel (Lota) filled with water. Add Red Flowers, Sesame Seeds (Til), Jaggery (Gud), and Roli. Offer this water to the rising Sun while chanting:

"Om Suryaya Namah"
(or recite the Aditya Hridaya Stotra)

🎁 The Power of Daan (Charity)

Makar Sankranti is incomplete without donation. This day is also called "Khichdi Parv."

🥘 Khichdi (Food)

Donating Khichdi (Rice + Urad Dal) pleases Lord Shani and Sun. It removes obstacles.

🥣 Sesame & Jaggery

Donating Til and Gud brings wealth, fame, and warmth in relationships.

🧥 Warm Clothes

Donating blankets or sweaters to the needy removes the malefic effects of Rahu/Saturn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated on January 14th?

Unlike other Hindu festivals based on the Lunar calendar (Tithi), Makar Sankranti follows the Solar calendar. It marks the specific celestial event of the Sun entering the Capricorn (Makar) zodiac sign. Hence, it usually falls on Jan 14 or 15.

What is the significance of donating Khichdi?

Khichdi is made of Rice (Moon) and Black Urad Dal (Saturn). Eating and donating Khichdi on this day is believed to balance the energies of the Moon and Saturn, removing financial and mental blocks.

Can we do Puja at home if we cannot go to a river?

Yes. You can invoke the holy rivers by adding a few drops of Gangajal and Black Sesame seeds (Til) to your bathing water at home. This grants the same merit as a river bath.

What implies the start of "Uttarayan"?

"Uttarayan" literally means "North Movement." From this day, the Sun starts moving towards the Northern Hemisphere. Days become longer and warmer, symbolizing the victory of light (knowledge) over darkness (ignorance).

Makar Sankranti 2026: The Great Solar Shift (Uttarayan) & Puja Vidhi

Key Takeaway