Makar Sankranti 2026: Date, time, rituals, spiritual significance and celebration

Makar Sankranti is one of the most famous and sacred festivals of Hindus, which is celebrated across the country with great grandeur and enthusiasm. This festival is based on the solar movement because on this auspicious day Sun moves from one zodiac sign to another, which is considered as a powerful cosmic shift. This year, Makar Sankranti is being celebrated on January 14, 2026. For more information, you can scroll down the article and check the Sankranti timings and spiritual significance:

Makar Sankranti 2026: Date and Time

Makara Sankranti on Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Makara Sankranti Punya Kala - 03:13 PM to 05:45 PM

Makara Sankranti Maha Punya Kala - 03:13 PM to 04:58 PM

Makar Sankranti 2926: Significance

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious festivals of Hindus. The festival is celebrated with great grandeur and enthusiasm across the country. This festival is totally based on the solar movement because on this sacred day Sun changes its position and move from Sagittarius zodiac sign to Capricorn. This is the day when Sun becomes Uttarayan from Dakshinayan. This is the transition coming from darkness to the light, stagnant position towards growth.

Spiritual Significance of Makar Sankranti 2026:

Makar Sankranti holds a great religious and spiritual significance among Hindus. From Makar Sankranti day, Sun will start its journey from southward to northward. In many regions, this day is also celebrated as Uttarayan, the day dedicated to divine gods. This day is considered as the most powerful day when the spiritual energies on earth will start increasing. This day is considered as the most sacred day to take a holy bath in Ganga river, making donations, doing good deeds, feedings brahmins and priests, distributing food, and clothes to the under privileged people.

Makar Sankranti 2026: Puja Rituals

1. Wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath. Many people visit Ganga ghats to take holy bath in the ganga river. This day is believed to cleanse all the karmic deeds you have done in your past birth and purify your body.

2. Offering Arghya to the Lord Surya is also one of the most sacred ritual which people should perform after taking holy bath.

3. Lighting a diya is another ritual which you should perform after offering Arghya to Surya. You must light a diya in front of the Lord Vishnu.

4. Doing charity is must on this auspicious day of Makar Sankranti because it is believed to remove all the sins and ego when you perform this ritual. It is advised to donate til (white sesame seeds), jaggery, warm clothes and grains.

Shattila Ekadashi on Makar Sankranti 2026:

This year, Makar Sankranti is considered as the most auspicious because after years Shattila Ekadashi is falling on Makar Sankranti day and people are advised to perform puja to Lord Vishnu and observe fast with immense devotion and purity. They must avoid eating rice khichdi on this day because eating rice on Ekadashi day is prohibited.