Sankranti
A sankranti is the Sun's entry into a sidereal sign. The twelve sankrantis mark the solar months; Makar Sankranti, Mesha Sankranti and the Karka and Tula transitions carry festivals.
Upcoming · Delhi
- Kanya Sankranti Thursday, 2026-09-17 07:52
- Tula Sankranti Saturday, 2026-10-17 19:51
- Vrishchika Sankranti Monday, 2026-11-16 19:43
- Dhanu Sankranti Wednesday, 2026-12-16 10:24
Computed for Delhi. Other city
What a sankranti is
The Sun moves about one degree a day along the ecliptic and enters a new 30° sidereal sign roughly every month. The instant of entry is the sankranti, and the solar month that follows takes the sign’s name: Mesha (Chithirai in Tamil, Baisakh in Punjab), Vrishabha, Mithuna, Karka, Simha, Kanya, Tula, Vrishchika, Dhanu, Makara, Kumbha, Meena.
Festivals
Makar Sankranti (Pongal, Uttarayan, Maghi, Bhogali Bihu) marks the Sun’s entry into Capricorn. Mesha Sankranti is the solar new year: Baisakhi, Puthandu, Vishu, Pohela Boishakh, Bihu. Karka Sankranti begins Dakshinayana. Because the entry can fall at any hour, the festival day follows the punya kaal rule: if the sankranti falls after sunset, the next day is taken. Hastro applies that rule for each city.
Sankranti and the lunar calendar
A lunar month with no sankranti is an adhik month; a lunar month with two is a kshaya month. The Sun’s month in Dhanu is Kharmas.
FAQ
Why was Makar Sankranti on 14 January some years and 15 January in others?
The Sun’s entry into Capricorn drifts later by about 20 minutes a year and now falls near midnight on 14/15 January; whether it lands before or after sunset decides the day.
Does the ayanamsa change sankranti dates?
Yes, by the time it takes the Sun to move the difference: about a day for Raman versus Lahiri.
Related: Ayanamsa Kharmas Adhik Maas