Festival

Makar Sankranti

The Sun's entry into Makara rashi, one of the few solar festivals, celebrated as Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayan and Magh Bihu across India, usually on 14 January.

Next: Thursday, 14 January 2027Dates for Delhi

Upcoming dates

for Delhi

14THUThu, 14 January 2027Thursday, 14 January 2027Makar SankrantiUttarayan (Gujarat) · Thai Pongal (Tamil Nadu) · Magh Bihu (Assam) · Maghi (Punjab) · Khichdi (Bihar/UP) · Poush Sankranti (Bengal) · Sankranti moment: 2027-01-14T21:06:02+05:30

Panchang for 14 January 2027

Each date opens that day’s panchang for Delhi. Dates follow the tithi at the moment each festival’s rule names, usually local sunrise, so they can shift by a day in another city.

Significance

Makar Sankranti marks the Sun's sidereal entry into Makara (Capricorn), the start of Uttarayana, the auspicious northward half of the year. Unlike lunar festivals its date barely moves: 14 January in the current era.

One transition, many festivals

Tamil Nadu: the four-day Pongal (Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu, Kaanum)
Gujarat: Uttarayan and its kite-filled skies
Punjab: Lohri bonfires on the eve, Maghi the day after
Bihar/UP: Khichdi, where the dish and the day share a name
Assam: Magh Bihu feasts
Bengal: Poush Sankranti with pithe sweets

Observance

A holy dip during Punya Kaal, dana of til (sesame) and khichdi, and sweets of til-gud: warmth for the last stretch of winter.

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