Makar Sankranti 2026: Solar Transit, Udaya Tithi and Religious Significance

Why Is There So Much Question Around The Date Of Makar Sankranti 2026

Makar Sankranti is regarded as one of the rare festivals that are directly aligned with the movement of the Sun and with a deep inner message of transition from darkness to light. It marks the turning away from the heaviness of winter towards warmth, vitality and spiritual clarity. In most years there is little confusion about the date but in 2026 many devotees find themselves divided between 14 and 15 January.

This confusion cannot be resolved by looking at a calendar alone. It calls for an understanding that unites the actual solar transit, the principles of shastra and the role of Udaya Tithi, the lunar day that prevails at sunrise. When these threads are joined, it becomes much easier to see which day holds the main festival marker and how the second day still retains its own sacred value.

Makar Sankranti 2026: Solar Transit, Date And Meaning

Makar Sankranti is the moment when the Sun enters Makara Rashi, Capricorn and begins its northward journey known as Uttarayan. This astronomical shift is considered highly auspicious. For the year 2026, this solar transit into Capricorn is calculated to take place on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, at about 03:07 pm in the afternoon.

From a traditional standpoint, the Sun’s entry into a new sign itself defines the Sankranti moment. From that point onwards

• Positive and sacred activities gain renewed strength
• Periods of restriction or pause gradually dissolve
• A fresh chapter opens for spiritual practices, vows and disciplined living

This is why Makar Sankranti is seen not only as a social celebration but also as a turning point for the entire year on the spiritual level.

Brief Overview Of 14 And 15 January 2026

To remove confusion, it helps to see both dates and their roles side by side.

Basis	Date	Main Meaning
Sun’s transit into Capricorn	14 January 2026, around 03:07 pm	Core Sankranti moment, start of the new solar phase
Main festival day by transit	14 January 2026, Wednesday	Primary Makar Sankranti observance
Sunrise based holy bath and charity	Morning of 15 January 2026	Favoured time for snan and daan according to Udaya Tithi

In this way, 14 January is anchored as the festival day according to the solar transit, while the morning of 15 January becomes meaningful for those who emphasise sunrise based sacred bathing and charity.

Why Does Makar Sankranti Carry Such Deep Religious Weight

From the scriptural point of view, Makar Sankranti marks the start of Uttarayan, the Sun’s northward path, beginning with its entry into Makara Rashi. Uttarayan is viewed as the day time of the devas, suitable for higher spiritual effort. Capricorn itself is associated with discipline, structure and steady work, so the Sun’s presence here calls for commitment, responsibility and purposeful action.

On this sacred occasion, devotees

• Take holy baths in rivers or at home
• Offer daan in the form of food, sesame, jaggery, clothes, blankets and money
• Perform tarpan, offerings for ancestors
• Prepare khichdi bhog and sesame based sweets as prasad

Such acts are believed to establish peace, well being and merit in one’s life when done with sincerity.

Why Did Confusion Increase In 2026: Role Of Astrology And Udaya Tithi

In 2026, the root of confusion lies in the timing of the solar transit, which occurs in the afternoon. When the Sankranti moment falls early in the day, both the festival and the rituals naturally align with that date. When, however the Sun enters a new sign later in the day, a question arises.

• Should the festival be considered on the same date as the transit
• Or should major acts like snan and daan wait for the following sunrise

Astrological rules emphasise that the actual moment of transit defines the Sankranti itself. therefore from a planetary standpoint, the festival centre clearly rests on 14 January. The Udaya Tithi principle, on the other hand, suggests that if the transit happens late, certain rituals related to bathing and charity may be more appropriately performed on the next day’s sunrise. This is the reason why in 2026 both 14 and 15 January appear in discussion with different emphases.

14 January 2026: The Transit Based Celebration

On 14 January 2026, when the Sun enters Capricorn in the afternoon, the auspicious influence of Makar Sankranti begins. From the perspective of astrology and the panchang,

• The solar transit happens on this day
• The calculations of Punya Kaal and Maha Punya Kaal are rooted in this date
• The peak moment of the festival is associated with this Wednesday

Many scholars therefore affirm that 14 January should be treated as the primary Makar Sankranti date. Those who wish to fast, worship, prepare khichdi bhog and observe the festival in a transit based manner can structure their practice around this day, especially after the time of the Sun’s entry. If someone chooses to keep the festival on the 14th but postpone rice donation or khichdi daan to the next morning, that can be done peaceably on 15 January.

15 January 2026: Importance Of Sunrise For Snan And Daan

Another scriptural view emphasises that for holy bathing and charity, the Udaya Tithi carries special weight. According to this understanding, when the Sun enters Makara on the afternoon of 14 January, the following morning, 15 January, becomes the first full sunrise in the new solar condition. Therefore

• Sacred river bathing
• Donations of sesame, food and garments
• Collective khichdi distribution

can be meaningfully performed on the morning of 15 January. In this way many devotees choose to honour the transit on 14 January and then focus on snan and daan during the sunrise hours of the 15th.

How To Reconcile Both Dates For Makar Sankranti 2026

When two perspectives emerge, the mind naturally seeks clarity. For 2026, Makar Sankranti can be understood with a balanced approach.

• Formal and astrological festival date
  14 January 2026, when the Sun actually enters Capricorn and Sankranti becomes active.
• Sunrise based bath and charity focus
  15 January 2026, when some followers prefer to perform snan and daan under the first full sunrise of the new position.

Thus the festival’s core remains anchored on 14 January, while 15 January serves as a complementary opportunity specifically for sunrise oriented observances.

Core Practices To Observe On Makar Sankranti

Whether someone leans more towards 14 January or chooses the dawn of 15 January for snan and daan, certain core practices run through Makar Sankranti.

• Bathing in rivers, lakes or at home with an attitude of cleansing and renewal
• Offering sesame, jaggery, grains and clothes as charity, especially to the needy
• Remembering ancestors with tarpan and prayers for their peace
• Preparing khichdi bhog, sesame laddoos and other sesame based preparations and sharing them with others

In many places the day is affectionately known as Khichdi Parv. The blend of sesame and jaggery is seen as a symbol of inner warmth, relational sweetness and the softening of inner coldness.

What Deeper Message Can Be Drawn From Makar Sankranti 2026

Makar Sankranti 2026 offers a gentle reminder that outer cosmic movements and inner spiritual journeys can be brought into harmony. The Sun’s move into Capricorn signals a shift in the outer season, while inwardly it invites a movement

• From ignorance towards understanding
• From inertia towards purposeful action
• From discouragement towards hope

Whether one honours the festival mainly on 14 January or adds the sunrise rituals of 15 January, the central purpose remains the same.

• To awaken gratitude
• To deepen charity and service
• To welcome light and clarity into thought and conduct

In this way, the observance of Makar Sankranti 2026 can rise above the question of dates and become a true doorway to inner renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which date should be treated as the main Makar Sankranti in 2026
In 2026 the Sun enters Makara Rashi on 14 January in the afternoon. This makes 14 January 2026 the primary Makar Sankranti date from the standpoint of solar transit and panchang calculations.

Then what is the role of 15 January
15 January brings the first sunrise after the transit. Those who give special importance to Udaya Tithi may choose this morning for sacred bath, sesame charity and khichdi distribution.

Why does an afternoon transit create confusion about the festival date
When the transit occurs late in the day, some people hesitate to perform snan and daan in the remaining hours. One group keeps the festival on the transit date, while another prefers to move bathing and charity to the next sunrise, which creates differing opinions.

On which day is it better to offer khichdi bhog and rice donation
Those who celebrate on 14 January can either perform khichdi bhog that day or carry their rice based charity into the morning of 15 January. In both cases sincerity and purity of intention are more important than the exact clock minute.

How can Makar Sankranti 2026 be made spiritually stronger
By choosing one or both of the days for mindful bath, sesame and food charity, quiet japa or meditation and a conscious cultivation of gratitude and service, Makar Sankranti 2026 can become a powerful step towards inner growth.