Makar Sankranti 2026 Date, Punya Kaal, Lohri and Pongal
Makar Sankranti 2026 was observed on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. Sankranti moment (New Delhi): 3:13 PM IST. Lohri was on Tuesday, 13 January.
Makar Sankranti 2026 date and Sankranti moment
Makar Sankranti 2026: Wednesday, 14 January 2026 (observed)
Makar Sankranti marks the Sun’s entry into the sidereal sign Makara (Capricorn). In 2026 the Sun entered Makara at 3:13 PM IST on 14 January, so the Sankranti, its Punya Kaal and Thai Pongal all fell on Wednesday, 14 January. Unlike most Hindu festivals, Sankranti follows the solar calendar, which is why it falls on 14 or 15 January almost every year. On the lunar calendar the day was Magha Krishna Ekadashi (Purnimanta), so Shattila Ekadashi coincided with Sankranti in 2026.
Punya Kaal timings (New Delhi, 14 Jan 2026)
| Window | Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Sankranti moment | 3:13 PM |
| Punya Kaal | 3:13 PM – 5:45 PM |
| Maha Punya Kaal | 3:13 PM – 4:58 PM |
Our own calculation places the Sun’s ingress a few minutes earlier (about 3:04 PM); the times above follow Drik Panchang, which most families use. The date is the same either way.
Lohri, Pongal and other regional names
- Lohri (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi): Tuesday, 13 January 2026, the evening before Sankranti, with a bonfire, til, rewri, gajak and popcorn offered to the fire.
- Thai Pongal (Tamil Nadu): Wednesday, 14 January 2026, the first day of the Tamil month Thai. Pongal is a four-day festival: Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal.
- Uttarayan (Gujarat) and Makar Sankranti (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh), known for kite flying and til-gud sweets.
- Magh Bihu (Assam), Khichdi (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar) and Poush Sankranti (West Bengal).
Significance
Makara Sankranti is traditionally taken as the start of Uttarayana, the Sun’s northward half of the year, and as a harvest festival across India. Holy dips at the Ganga, Yamuna and Prayag Sangam, and charity (daan) of til, jaggery, khichdi, blankets and food during Punya Kaal are considered especially meritorious.
Rituals
- Bath before or during Punya Kaal, ideally in a river; offer arghya to Surya.
- Donate sesame (til), jaggery, rice-dal khichdi, warm clothes or blankets.
- Eat and share til-gud laddoos, chikki, khichdi or sweet pongal.
- Fly kites in Gujarat and Rajasthan; light the Lohri bonfire on the eve in Punjab.
Panchang for the day
See the full sunrise, tithi, nakshatra and Rahu Kaal: Panchang for 14 January 2026 (New Delhi).
Makar Sankranti 2027
The next Makar Sankranti falls on Friday, 15 January 2027, because the Sun enters Makara after sunset on 14 January 2027.
Related
All times are IST for New Delhi unless stated otherwise. Muhurat changes with your city’s sunrise, sunset and moonrise: check today’s Panchang for your location. Outside India the date can differ; use your local panchang. Sources: Drik Panchang (New Delhi), cross-checked with Free Panchang’s own calculation (Lahiri ayanamsa); AstroSage 2026 festival calendar.
Frequently asked questions
- Makar Sankranti 2026 kab thi?
- Makar Sankranti 2026 was on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The Sun entered Makara at 3:13 PM IST (New Delhi).
- When was Lohri 2026?
- Lohri 2026 was on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, the evening before Makar Sankranti.
- What was the Makar Sankranti Punya Kaal in 2026?
- In New Delhi the Punya Kaal was 3:13 PM to 5:45 PM and the Maha Punya Kaal 3:13 PM to 4:58 PM IST on 14 January 2026.