Makar Sankranti 2028
The Sun's entry into sidereal Capricorn — kite-flying, til-gud and holy dips; celebrated as Pongal in the south.
Today's Panchang
Kashi reference · computed live- Tithi
- Ashtami
- till 18:59
- Nakshatra
- Bharani
- till 20:18
- Yoga
- Ganda
- Karana
- Balava
- Sunrise
- 05:27
- Sunset
- 18:40
- Moon sign
- Aries
- Sun sign
- Cancer
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankranti moment03:07
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Makar Sankranti puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaMakar Sankranti — Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Makar Sankranti fall on almost the same date every year?
It is a solar festival, fixed by the Sun's entry into sidereal Makara, not by a lunar tithi. Lunar festivals drift against the civil calendar; this one does not.
What is punya kaal?
The meritorious window reckoned from the moment of the sankranti, during which bathing and charity carry the festival's full merit. If the sankranti falls after sunset, it shifts to the next morning.
Why are til and gur given on this day?
Sesame and jaggery are exchanged with the wish that speech between the giver and receiver stay sweet. Giving — of til, gur, blankets or grain — is the central act of the day.
Other major festivals in 2028
- Vasant Panchami — 1 February 2028
- Maha Shivaratri — 23 February 2028
- Holika Dahan — 10 March 2028
- Holi — 11 March 2028
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 27 March 2028
- Ram Navami — 3 April 2028
- Akshaya Tritiya — 27 April 2028
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 24 June 2028
- Guru Purnima — 6 July 2028
- Nag Panchami — 26 July 2028
- Raksha Bandhan — 5 August 2028
- Krishna Janmashtami — 13 August 2028
- Hartalika Teej — 22 August 2028
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 23 August 2028
- Anant Chaturdashi — 2 September 2028
- Pitru Paksha begins — 4 September 2028
- Sharad Navratri begins — 19 September 2028
- Durga Ashtami — 26 September 2028
- Maha Navami — 27 September 2028
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 27 September 2028
- Karwa Chauth — 7 October 2028
- Dhanteras — 15 October 2028
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 17 October 2028
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 17 October 2028
- Govardhan Puja — 18 October 2028
- Bhai Dooj — 19 October 2028
- Chhath Puja — 23 October 2028
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 2 November 2028
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 2 November 2028
- Hindu Festivals 2028 →