Makar Sankranti 2031
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 moment21:35
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 2031
- Vasant Panchami — 27 January 2031
- Maha Shivaratri — 20 February 2031
- Holika Dahan — 8 March 2031
- Holi — 10 March 2031
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 24 March 2031
- Ram Navami — 1 April 2031
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 2031
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 22 June 2031
- Guru Purnima — 4 July 2031
- Nag Panchami — 24 July 2031
- Raksha Bandhan — 3 August 2031
- Krishna Janmashtami — 8 September 2031
- Hartalika Teej — 19 September 2031
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 20 September 2031
- Anant Chaturdashi — 29 September 2031
- Pitru Paksha begins — 1 October 2031
- Sharad Navratri begins — 17 October 2031
- Durga Ashtami — 23 October 2031
- Maha Navami — 24 October 2031
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 25 October 2031
- Karwa Chauth — 2 November 2031
- Dhanteras — 12 November 2031
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 2031
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 14 November 2031
- Govardhan Puja — 15 November 2031
- Bhai Dooj — 16 November 2031
- Chhath Puja — 20 November 2031
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 2031
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 2031
- Hindu Festivals 2031 →