Makar Sankranti
The sun begins its northward journey — the most auspicious solar event.
Gregorian date
15 January 2028
Saturday
Tithi
Sun enters Capricorn (solar — not lunar tithi)
Pausha (December – January)
Duration
single-day (multi-day in Tamil Nadu)
Also known as
Pongal · Lohri · Bihu · Uttarayana
Significance
Marks the sun's transition into Capricorn (Makara Rashi). The day is celebrated in different forms across India — Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab (eve of), Bihu in Assam, Uttarayan in Gujarat (kite festival).
What happens on the day
- •Bathe in a holy river at dawn
- •Eat sesame-jaggery sweets (til-gud)
- •Donate til + clothes
- •Fly kites (Gujarat)
- •Pongal cooking (Tamil Nadu)
Auspicious for
- ✓Major sankalpa
- ✓Pitru tarpana
- ✓Donation
About the month of Paushaपौष
Coldest month. Sun begins its northward journey at Makar Sankranti (transitioning from Pausha to Magha). Tamil Pongal and Punjabi Lohri fall around the same time.
More festivals in Pausha
Bhogi Pandigai
14 January 2028 · Solar (eve of Thai Pongal)
The first day of the Tamil 4-day Pongal harvest festival — old things go on the bonfire.
Lohri
14 January 2028 · Solar (eve of Makar Sankranti)
Punjab's harvest bonfire festival — celebrated on the eve of Makar Sankranti.
Thai Pongal
15 January 2028 · Sun enters Capricorn (solar)
Tamil Nadu's harvest festival — sweet pongal cooked in a new clay pot facing the rising sun.
Mattu Pongal
16 January 2028 · Solar (day after Thai Pongal)
Cattle worship — the third day of Pongal honours the bulls and cows that work the fields.