This festival has connections with the harvest of the crops, flying kites and several cultural aspects. It also serves as a winter solstice to explain when the longitude of the days lasts longer as the sun moves in a northerly direction, which is called Uttarayan, warm wishing.

In Uttar Pradesh the festival is called Makara Sankranti, in Tamil Nadu it is called Pongal, in Gujarat and Rajasthan it is Uttarayana, in Haryana and Punjab it is called Maghi, and lastly in Maharashtra along with Goa, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Telangana it is called Poush Songkranti.

Makar Sankranti 2025 DateAs per Drik Panchang, this year on 14 January this traditional festival is anticipated to be celebrated nationwide with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal on a Tuesday.

Punya Kaal Timings on January 14 will last for 8 hours and 43 minutes, commencing from am 9:03 till pm 5:46.

Maha Punya Kaal which is the time span which is set aside to receive blessings has a duration which is available on January 14 from 0903 am till 1048 am.

Do you have any idea why this festival is observed on the 14th and 15th of January every year (with January 15th being for leap years)? It is because it has nothing to do with the lunar calendar. This solar celebration also indicates the commencement of the Uttarayana season, which is when the sun starts moving north. This is considered a favorable time as it signifies harvest time. At this point, people are supposed to have big celebrations, thanking everything good that happened throughout the previous year.