Makar Sankranti 2027: Date, Punya Kaal and Maha Punya Kaal Timings

Makar Sankranti 2027 falls on Friday 15 January in India. In Delhi the punya kaal, the window for the holy bath, Surya puja and daan, runs from 7:15 AM to 5:46 PM, and the maha punya kaal from 7:15 AM to 9:00 AM.

The Sun enters Makara Rashi (Capricorn) at 9:14 PM on Thursday 14 January, Indian time. That is after sunset, so the rituals move to the next morning. In the USA and the UK the same moment falls during the day on the 14th, which is why Makar Sankranti is a day earlier there.

Makar Sankranti 2027 punya kaal and maha punya kaal by city

Punya kaal is the part of the day considered right for bathing, Surya puja and giving. Maha punya kaal is its first stretch, starting at sunrise, and is treated as the most auspicious. All the times below are for Friday 15 January, in IST, from DrikPanchang's page for each city.

In Delhi the punya kaal is 7:15 AM to 5:46 PM, with the maha punya kaal until 9:00 AM. Mumbai starts at the same minute, 7:15 AM, but sunset comes later there, so its punya kaal lasts until 6:21 PM and its maha punya kaal until 9:06 AM.

Kolkata starts earliest, at 6:19 AM, and its punya kaal ends at 5:13 PM, with the maha punya kaal until 8:08 AM. Chennai's punya kaal is 6:35 AM to 6:02 PM, with the maha punya kaal until 8:30 AM. Bengaluru's is 6:46 AM to 6:12 PM, with the maha punya kaal until 8:40 AM.

The windows differ only because sunrise and sunset differ from city to city. Some panchangs use a different rule to set the window, so a family that follows a particular panchang should check its own timings. People who cannot get to a river or tirtha usually bathe, pray and give daan at home.

Makar Sankranti 2027 in the USA and UK

DrikPanchang lists Makar Sankranti on Thursday 14 January 2027 in both New York and London. The Sun's entry, 9:14 PM in India, is 10:44 AM in New York, so the punya kaal there runs from 10:44 AM to 4:52 PM, with the maha punya kaal until 12:20 PM.

In London the entry comes at 3:44 PM, close to sunset, which leaves a short punya kaal of 3:44 PM to 4:19 PM. For any other city, use a panchang set to that city, because both the date and the window depend on local time.

Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

The festival marks the Sun's entry into Makara Rashi. Hindu tradition links it to Uttarayana, the Sun's northward journey, and treats the months that follow as a good time for spiritual practice, charity and new beginnings. It is also taken as the start of longer days.

It is a harvest festival too. January is the winter harvest in several parts of India, and the day is a time to give thanks for the crop and for the people who grow it. Many people offer water to the rising Sun and pray to Surya Dev for health and prosperity.

Regional names: Pongal, Uttarayan, Bihu, Khichdi and Lohri

Gujarat calls the day Uttarayan and spends it flying kites from the rooftops. In Tamil Nadu it is Pongal, named after the dish of newly harvested rice cooked with milk and jaggery, and the celebration also honours cattle and farm life. Assam keeps Magh Bihu, also called Bhogali Bihu, with feasts and community gatherings. In Uttar Pradesh and much of north India the day often goes by the name Khichdi, after the rice and lentil dish that families cook and give away.

Punjab and the nearby states celebrate Lohri on the evening before, with bonfires, folk songs, dancing, peanuts, popcorn and rewri. In 2027 Lohri is on Thursday 14 January. Regional dates can shift with local calendars, so check the one your family follows.

What to donate on Makar Sankranti 2027

Daan is a large part of the day. The usual gifts are til (sesame) and gur (jaggery), rice and lentils or the makings of khichdi, other grain and food, and warm clothes, blankets and footwear for people who need them. Many people also give to community kitchens and charities.

The value of the gift matters less than the intention behind it. Give respectfully and within your means.

Traditional foods

Til and gur go into most of the season's sweets: til laddoos, gajak, chikki and plain til-gur. Homes in north India cook khichdi and share it, or donate the ingredients. Gujarat adds undhiyu and seasonal sweets to the meal, Tamil Nadu makes both sweet and savoury Pongal, and Assam celebrates with pitha and other rice dishes.

Does kharmas end on Makar Sankranti?

Yes. Kharmas, the month when many Hindu families avoid weddings and other auspicious ceremonies, ends when the Sun enters Makara. In 2027 that means the wedding season reopens on 15 January, the same day as Makar Sankranti in India. Our piece on why there are no weddings between 13 December and 14 January explains the pause.

Sankranti does not make every later date suitable for every ceremony. A wedding date still depends on the couple's horoscopes, family custom and the muhurats listed in the panchang.

Frequently asked questions

When is Makar Sankranti 2027?

Friday 15 January 2027 in India. The Sun enters Makara Rashi at 9:14 PM on 14 January, after sunset, so the festival is kept the following day. In the USA and UK it is on Thursday 14 January.

What is the Makar Sankranti 2027 punya kaal in Delhi?

DrikPanchang gives the punya kaal as 7:15 AM to 5:46 PM and the maha punya kaal as 7:15 AM to 9:00 AM on 15 January 2027. Other panchangs may calculate the window differently.

Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

It marks the Sun's entry into Makara Rashi and the start of Uttarayana. It is also a harvest festival, kept with Surya puja and charity.

What should we donate on Makar Sankranti?

Til and gur, rice, lentils or khichdi ingredients, warm clothes and blankets, and food for people in need.

Is Lohri celebrated before Makar Sankranti?

Yes. Lohri is kept on the evening before Makar Sankranti. In 2027 it falls on Thursday 14 January.