Sankranti 2026 (संक्रांति)
Sankranti marks the Sun's transit from one zodiac sign to another. There are 12 Sankrantis in a year.
Sankranti (Sanskrit: संक्रांति) marks the Sun's transit from one zodiac sign to another. There are 12 Sankrantis in a year, each marking the Sun's entry into a new Rashi (zodiac sign).
The most celebrated Sankranti is Makar Sankranti (Sun entering Capricorn), which marks the beginning of Uttarayan - the northward journey of the Sun. This is celebrated across India with different names: Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab, Bihu in Assam, and Uttarayan in Gujarat.
January - Most celebrated
April - Solar New Year
July - Dakshinayana begins
October - Harvest season
Spiritual Significance: Sankranti days are considered highly auspicious for charity (Dana), holy baths, Shraddha rituals, and beginning new ventures.
Per Dharam Sindhu, each Sankranti has a specific Punya Kaal duration based on its zodiac sign. Durations range from 10 to 40 Ghatis (4 to 16 hours), calculated either before or after the transit moment. For nighttime transits, Punya Kaal shifts to the nearest daytime period. This is the ideal time for Dana (charity), Snana (holy bath), and Puja.
Per Dharam Sindhu, Maha Punya Kaal is the most auspicious period within Punya Kaal. Duration varies by zodiac: 3 Ghatis (72 min) for most Sankrantis, 5 Ghatis (2 hrs) for Karka, and 7 Ghatis (2 hrs 48 min) for Makara. It begins at the Punya Kaal start time.