What is Maha Punya Kaal on Uttarayan, know Muhurt of 2026

Makar Sankranti 2026 : The Aspicious festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on January 14th or 15th. On this day, the Sun God moves from Sagittarius to Capricorn, which is why Makar Sankranti is celebrated. Makar Sankranti is also known as Khichdi and Uttarayan.  The festival is known by different names in different regions of the country, but the celebrations are similar. On Makar Sankranti, people take a holy bath, perform acts of charity, and eat khichdi, curd  and sesame seed ladoos. In some places, people also fly kites on Makar Sankranti.  Let's find out when Makar Sankranti 2026 is? What is the Aspicious time for bathing and charity on Makar Sankranti?

2026 Makar Sankranti Date:

According to astrology, the moment the Sun God leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn, that will be the moment of Makar Sankranti. Based on this, according to the Hindu calendar, in the new year 2026, the Sun God will enter Capricorn on Wednesday, January 14th, at 3:13 PM. That will be the moment of Makar Sankranti. Therefore, Makar Sankranti in 2026 will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 14th. Sometimes, the Makar Sankranti festival falls on January 13th or January 15th. This is due to the timing of the sun's entry into the Capricorn constellation. The day of Makar Sankranti is determined by the exact time the sun enters Capricorn.

Makar Sankranti Muhurat:

On January 14, 2026, the auspicious time (Muhurat) for Makar Sankranti, also known as the Maha Punya Kaal, is from 3:13 PM to 4:58 PM. This Maha Punya Kaal will last for 1 hour and 45 minutes. The general auspicious period (Punya Kaal) for Makar Sankranti is from 3:13 PM to 5:45 PM, lasting for 2 hours and 32 minutes. The Maha Punya Kaal, followed by the Punya Kaal, is considered the most auspicious time for taking a holy bath on Makar Sankranti.

Why is Makar Sankranti also called Khichdi and Uttarayan?

On Makar Sankranti, people in most places consume khichdi.On Makar Sankranti, the Sun God moves from Dakshinayana (southern hemisphere) to Uttarayana (northern hemisphere).  He remains in Uttarayana for six months. Uttarayana is considered the day of the gods and is considered auspicious. The six months of the solar calendar that fall during Uttarayana are Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini.

The Significance of Makar Sankranti:

On Makar Sankranti, people worship the Sun God, which strengthens the position of the Sun in their horoscope. This brings career advancement, fame, glory, support from one's father, progress in politics, and more. Taking a holy bath and performing acts of charity on Makar Sankranti brings spiritual merit.  One should donate food grains, sesame seeds, jaggery, warm clothes, etc., on this day.