Makar Sankranti 2027: Makar Sankranti is the festival of the Sun’s move into Capricorn (Makar Rashi). It marks the start of Uttarayan, the Sun’s northward journey, and it is celebrated across India with sesame-jaggery sweets, khichdi, holy baths, charity, kites, and harvest feasts. In 2027, the Sun enters Capricorn at about 9:14 PM IST on Thursday, January 14, 2027. Because that moment falls after sunset in India, Drik Panchang’s New Delhi calendar places the festival on Friday, January 15, 2027, while many other calendars and websites list Thursday, January 14.
This guide explains both dates in plain language, shows what time the Sun enters Capricorn in different countries, and covers the punya kaal rules, a simple puja vidhi, the three best-known legends, traditional foods, and how the festival is celebrated from Punjab to Tamil Nadu and from Gujarat to Assam.
Makar Sankranti 2027 Date and Timings
| Detail | 2027 information |
|---|---|
| Sun enters Capricorn | Thursday, January 14, 2027, at about 9:14 PM IST (some calculation methods give a few minutes earlier, around 9:00 PM) |
| Observed in India (Drik Panchang, New Delhi) | Friday, January 15, 2027 |
| Also listed by many calendars | Thursday, January 14, 2027 |
| Delhi sunrise and sunset | About 7:15 AM and 5:45 PM |
| Lohri | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 (a few communities: January 14) |
| Maghi in Punjab | Thursday, January 14, 2027 |
| Kharmas | Began on December 16, 2026, when the Sun entered Sagittarius, and ends with the Sun’s entry into Capricorn |
| Next Sankranti | Kumbha Sankranti, Saturday, February 13, 2027 |
What time does the Sun enter Capricorn where you live?
The Sun enters Capricorn at the same instant everywhere in the world, but the clock time and date change with your time zone. This table is based on the 9:14 PM IST time listed by Drik Panchang.
| Location | Time of Sun’s entry into Capricorn |
|---|---|
| India (IST) | 9:14 PM, Thursday, January 14 |
| UK (GMT) | 3:44 PM, Thursday, January 14 |
| US Eastern Time | 10:44 AM, Thursday, January 14 |
| US Pacific Time | 7:44 AM, Thursday, January 14 |
| Dubai (GST) | 7:44 PM, Thursday, January 14 |
| Singapore | 11:44 PM, Thursday, January 14 |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 2:44 AM, Friday, January 15 |
Why Do Some Calendars Say January 14 and Others January 15?
Makar Sankranti follows the exact moment the Sun moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn, not the Moon. Panchangs also follow a rule about when the day’s rituals, called punya kaal, may be performed. If the Sankranti moment happens during the daytime, the rituals are done that day, between the moment and sunset. If it happens after sunset, the rituals move to the next sunrise.
In 2027, the Sun enters Capricorn after sunset in India, so panchangs that follow this rule, including Drik Panchang for New Delhi, place the main bath and charity on the morning of January 15. Calendars that simply count the date of the transit list January 14. In the UK and the United States, the transit falls in the daytime of January 14, so January 14 is the natural date there. Where it falls after sunset, as in Dubai and Singapore, January 15 is more usual.
The simplest approach is to follow the date announced by your local temple, priest, or community, and to use a panchang for your own city for exact timings.
What Is Makar Sankranti?
Makar Sankranti is the day the Sun moves from Sagittarius (Dhanu) into Capricorn (Makar). Unlike most Hindu festivals, which follow the Moon, it follows the Sun, so it falls on almost the same date in January each year. It is usually observed on January 14 or 15.
Three things happen around this day in the traditional calendar:
- Uttarayan begins. The Sun starts its northward journey, which is considered an auspicious period.
- Kharmas ends. The month-long period in which the Sun is in Sagittarius is over, and many families traditionally resume weddings and other auspicious events.
- The harvest is celebrated. Winter crops such as sugarcane, sesame, and new rice are in season, and the festival is a thanksgiving to the Sun and to farmers.
A note on the science. The real winter solstice happens around December 21, when the days start to lengthen. Makar Sankranti marks the traditional entry of the Sun into Capricorn, which today falls about three weeks later. Because of the slow wobble of the Earth’s axis, the Sankranti date drifts later by roughly one day every 70 to 80 years.
Why Is Makar Sankranti Celebrated?
People celebrate Makar Sankranti for several reasons, some religious and some seasonal.
- Uttarayan is seen as auspicious. Hindu tradition describes the Sun’s northward path as the day of the gods, and many scriptures describe it as a blessed time for prayer, charity, and new beginnings.
- Gratitude to the Sun. The Sun gives light, warmth, and the energy that ripens crops, so people thank Surya Dev with prayers and offerings.
- Harvest and community. In farming regions, the festival is a time of thanksgiving for the new crop, with community meals and fairs.
- Charity. Giving to the needy, especially food, sesame, jaggery, and warm clothes, is considered especially meritorious on this day.
- Sweetness in speech. Sharing sesame-jaggery sweets comes with a message to speak kindly and to let go of old quarrels.
What Is Punya Kaal and Maha Punya Kaal?
Punya kaal is the auspicious window after the Sankranti moment in which the bath, prayers, charity, and offerings are traditionally performed. It runs during daylight hours up to sunset. Maha punya kaal is a shorter, even more auspicious window at the start of the punya kaal, usually lasting a little under two hours. Both vary by city, so check a panchang for your location before planning.
In 2027, because the Sankranti moment falls after sunset in India, the punya kaal activities there move to the daytime of January 15, starting from sunrise (about 7:15 AM in Delhi).
Makar Sankranti Puja Vidhi: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
This is a simple home ritual. Customs differ by region and family, so follow your own tradition where it differs.
- Take an early bath. Bathe at sunrise or earlier, in a river or at home. Many people add a few sesame seeds and a little Gangajal to the water, which is called til snan. Wear clean, fresh clothes.
- Offer water to the Sun. Stand facing the rising Sun and pour water from a copper pot, often with a few sesame seeds and red flowers. Chant a simple mantra such as Om Suryaya Namah, or recite the Aditya Hridaya Stotram.
- Worship at the home shrine. Offer prayers to Surya Dev and Lord Vishnu with flowers, incense, and a lamp.
- Make the offering (bhog). Offer sesame-jaggery laddoos and khichdi, then share them as prasad.
- Give charity. Donate sesame, jaggery, khichdi ingredients, warm clothes, or food to people in need, during the punya kaal if possible.
- Share with others. Visit relatives and neighbours, exchange sweets, and wish each other well.
- Enjoy the day outdoors. Spend time in the sun. Kite flying, fairs, and community meals are all part of the day.
- Eat a festive meal. Families often sit down together in the evening to a meal of khichdi or other regional harvest dishes.
Puja Samagri Checklist
- Black and white sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, and puffed rice
- Ingredients for khichdi: new rice, dal, ghee, turmeric, and salt
- A copper pot for offering water to the Sun, red flowers, rice grains (akshat), and Gangajal
- Incense, a lamp, and a clean cloth for the shrine
- Items for charity: blankets, warm clothes, food, and a small cash gift
- Kites and thread, if you plan to fly them (see the safety tips below)
- For Pongal: a new clay pot, fresh rice, milk, jaggery, sugarcane, turmeric leaves, and colours for the kolam
What to Donate on Makar Sankranti
Charity, or daan, is one of the central parts of the festival. Common gifts include:
- Til (sesame): Often considered the most important gift of the day.
- Jaggery and khichdi ingredients: Rice, dal, ghee, and salt, so the recipient can cook a meal.
- Warm clothing and blankets: Especially useful in the cold season.
- Food for animals: Many people feed cows and birds.
Today, many people also donate to shelters, food banks, and charities that support people in need during winter.
The Legends of Makar Sankranti
These stories come from Hindu tradition and the Puranas, and they are told in several versions.
Surya Dev visits his son Shani
In the traditional story, Surya Dev, the Sun, and his son Shani, the planet Saturn, had a difficult relationship. Capricorn is the sign ruled by Shani. On Makar Sankranti, Surya is said to visit his son’s house for a month, which makes the day a symbol of reconciliation between father and son. One version says Shani welcomed his father with black sesame and jaggery, which is why these two foods are linked to the festival.
Bhishma Pitamah and Uttarayan
In the Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah had the boon of choosing the time of his death. Lying on his bed of arrows after the great war, he is said to have waited many days, traditionally counted as 58, for the Sun to begin its northward journey. Tradition holds that those who leave the world during Uttarayan are freed from the cycle of rebirth. His passing is remembered on Bhishma Ashtami, a few weeks after Makar Sankranti.
The descent of the Ganga
According to the Puranas, King Bhagiratha’s long penance brought the Ganga down to earth. On this day she is said to have reached the ashram of the sage Kapila, freed the sons of King Sagara, and then merged into the sea. This is why a great fair, the Gangasagar Mela, is held each year at the place in West Bengal where the Ganga meets the sea.
Traditional Makar Sankranti Foods
| Region | Traditional dishes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Across India | Sesame-jaggery laddoos, gajak, rewri, tilkut | Warming winter sweets shared with everyone |
| Uttar Pradesh and Bihar | Khichdi with ghee, curd, pickle, and papad; dahi-chura; tilkut; lai | Dahi-chura is flattened rice with curd and jaggery |
| Punjab and Haryana | Sarson da saag with makki di roti, pinni, jaggery kheer | Khichdi and kheer are common on Maghi |
| Gujarat | Undhiyu, jalebi, chikki | Eaten on the terrace during the kite festival |
| Maharashtra | Tilgul, gulpoli | Shared with the saying ‘Tilgul ghya, god god bola’ |
| Tamil Nadu | Sakkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal | Rice cooked in a new pot until it boils over |
| Karnataka | Ellu-bella | A mix of sesame, jaggery, peanuts, and coconut, shared with neighbours |
| Assam, Bengal, and Odisha | Pitha and laddoos of rice, coconut, sesame, and jaggery; Makar Chaula in Odisha | Made from the new rice harvest |
| Uttarakhand and Nepal | Ghughute in Uttarakhand; yam, ghee, and chaku in Nepal | Regional winter foods |
A simple til-gud laddoo recipe
Ingredients: 1 cup sesame seeds, three-quarters of a cup of grated jaggery, 1 teaspoon ghee, and a pinch of cardamom powder.
- Dry roast the sesame seeds on a low flame until they are fragrant, then let them cool.
- Melt the jaggery with 2 tablespoons of water and the ghee, and cook until a drop forms a soft ball in cold water.
- Turn off the heat, stir in the sesame and cardamom, and mix well.
- While the mixture is still warm, shape it into small balls with greased hands.
Safety note: Hot jaggery syrup can cause burns, so let the mixture cool slightly before shaping. Sesame and peanuts are common allergens, so ask your guests about allergies before sharing.
How Makar Sankranti Is Celebrated Across India
| Region | Name | How it is celebrated |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh | Lohri and Maghi | Lohri bonfire the night before. Maghi the next day, with gurdwara visits, khichdi, and kheer |
| Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand | Khichdi | Holy dips in the Ganga and an important bathing day during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj; khichdi as charity and bhog; the Khichdi Mela at Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur |
| Gujarat and Rajasthan | Uttarayan | Kite flying all day, with cries of ‘Kai po che’; undhiyu and chikki; the next day is called Vasi Uttarayan in Gujarat; in Rajasthan, gifts are given to married women |
| Maharashtra | Tilgul | Sharing sesame-jaggery sweets, haldi-kumkum gatherings for women, black clothes in the cold season, and the Bor Nahan ceremony for babies |
| Tamil Nadu | Pongal | Four days of celebration, described below |
| Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | Sankranti | Bhogi bonfires, Bhogi pallu for children, rangoli, Gobbemma figures, and the Haridasu singers |
| Karnataka | Sankranti | Sharing ellu-bella, and in villages, cattle leaping over a fire |
| Assam | Magh Bihu | A community feast on the night before, called Uruka; temporary huts called bhelaghar; a bonfire called meji burned at dawn |
| West Bengal | Poush Sankranti | Rice-flour pithas and the Gangasagar Mela |
| Odisha | Makar Sankranti | Makar Chaula, a raw mix of new rice, jaggery, banana, and coconut offered to the deities |
| Uttarakhand | Uttarayani | Fried ghughute strung into garlands, children calling the crows with ‘Kale kauwa’, and the Bageshwar fair |
| Nepal | Maghe Sankranti | Yam, ghee, sweets made of sesame and molasses, and river baths |
The four days of Pongal
- Bhogi: The day before the main festival, when old and unused items are cleared out and burned in a bonfire.
- Thai Pongal: The main day. Fresh rice is cooked with milk and jaggery in a new pot, and when it boils over, everyone cheers ‘Pongalo Pongal!’
- Mattu Pongal: The day to honour cows and bullocks, which are washed, decorated, and fed. Jallikattu events are held in some places.
- Kaanum Pongal: A day of family gatherings and outings.
Because the Tamil calendar also follows the Sun’s entry into Capricorn, the Pongal dates can shift by a day depending on the calendar used, so confirm the dates with your local calendar.
Kite Flying Safety Tips
Kite flying is one of the happiest parts of Makar Sankranti, and a few simple habits keep it safe.
- Avoid glass-coated and synthetic (nylon) thread. It can injure people, especially two-wheeler riders, and harm birds. It is banned in many places.
- Fly in open areas. Stay away from roads, rooftops without railings, and power lines.
- Watch the birds. Birds are most active at dawn and dusk, so fly kites during the middle of the day.
- Supervise children. Keep children away from roof edges and never let them climb for a fallen kite.
- Dispose of broken thread properly. Do not leave it on trees or wires, where it can trap birds.
Do’s and Don’ts on Makar Sankranti
Do:
- Bathe early and offer water to the Sun.
- Donate food, warm clothes, sesame, or jaggery.
- Share sesame-jaggery sweets and kind words with others.
- Spend time with family and thank the farmers who grow our food.
Traditional avoidances (varying by family and region):
- Many families avoid non-vegetarian food and alcohol on the day.
- Many avoid wasting food and avoid quarrels.
- Avoid anything that harms birds, animals, or other people during kite flying.
Makar Sankranti Wishes and Messages
- “Wishing you a bright and joyful Makar Sankranti. May the warmth of the Sun fill your life with happiness.”
- “May the sweetness of sesame and jaggery stay in your words and your life this Sankranti.”
- “Happy Makar Sankranti! May the new harvest bring prosperity and good health to your home.”
- “As the Sun begins its northward journey, may your life too move toward new hope and new beginnings.”
- “Shubh Makar Sankranti to you and your family. May the sky be full of kites and your heart full of joy.”
- “Happy Pongal and Makar Sankranti! May the pot of your life overflow with good fortune.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Makar Sankranti in 2027?
Makar Sankranti 2027 is listed on Thursday, January 14 by many calendars, and on Friday, January 15 by Drik Panchang’s New Delhi calendar. The Sun enters Capricorn at about 9:14 PM IST on January 14.
Why is Makar Sankranti sometimes on January 15?
When the Sun enters Capricorn after sunset, the traditional punya kaal rule moves the main rituals to the next sunrise, so the festival is observed on January 15.
What time does the Sun enter Capricorn in 2027?
It enters at about 9:14 PM IST on January 14, 2027. That is 3:44 PM in the UK, 10:44 AM US Eastern Time, and 7:44 AM US Pacific Time on the same date.
What is Makar Sankranti?
It is the festival that marks the Sun’s entry into Capricorn. It begins Uttarayan, ends Kharmas, and celebrates the harvest with sesame-jaggery sweets, khichdi, charity, and kites.
What is Uttarayan?
Uttarayan is the period during which the Sun appears to travel northward. It begins on Makar Sankranti and is considered an auspicious time for prayer and new beginnings.
What is Kharmas and when does it end?
Kharmas is the period when the Sun is in Sagittarius. In this cycle it began on December 16, 2026, and it ends when the Sun enters Capricorn on Makar Sankranti. Many families traditionally avoid starting auspicious events during Kharmas.
Why are sesame and jaggery eaten on Makar Sankranti?
In Indian tradition, sesame and jaggery are warming foods that suit the cold season. They also stand for sweetness in speech and for the harvest of the season.
Is Makar Sankranti the same as Pongal, Lohri, and Maghi?
They are connected but not identical. Lohri is the bonfire festival on the night before, Maghi is the Punjabi observance on the first day of Magh, and Pongal is the four-day Tamil harvest festival that begins around the same time.
What should I donate on Makar Sankranti?
Common gifts are sesame, jaggery, khichdi ingredients, warm clothes, blankets, and food for the needy and for animals.
Why do people fly kites on Makar Sankranti?
Kite flying is a popular tradition, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan. It is a joyful way to spend time outdoors in the winter sun and welcome the new season.
What is punya kaal?
Punya kaal is the auspicious window after the Sankranti moment in which the bath, prayers, and charity are traditionally done. The time differs by city, so check a panchang for your location.
Is the date of Makar Sankranti fixed?
It is almost fixed, usually January 14 or 15, because it follows the Sun and not the Moon. It slowly drifts later by about a day every 70 to 80 years.
Is Makar Sankranti a public holiday?
It is a holiday in many Indian states, but holiday lists differ by state and employer, so check your official calendar.