Makar Sankranti 2027 Date & Punya Kaal: 15 January (Lohri, Pongal, Uttarayan)
Makar Sankranti 2027 is on Friday, 15 January 2027. The Sun enters Makara (Capricorn) at 9:14 PM IST on 14 January, after sunset, so the punya kaal falls the next day. In New Delhi the Punya Kaal is 7:15 AM to 5:46 PM and the Maha Punya Kaal 7:15 AM to 9:00 AM on 15 January.
| Lohri | Thursday, 14 January 2027 (evening) |
| Bhogi | Thursday, 14 January 2027 |
| Makar Sankranti / Thai Pongal / Uttarayan | Friday, 15 January 2027 |
| Mattu Pongal / Kanuma | Saturday, 16 January 2027 |
| Sankranti moment | 9:14 PM IST, 14 January 2027 |
| Punya Kaal (New Delhi) | 7:15 AM to 5:46 PM, 15 January (10 h 31 min) |
| Maha Punya Kaal (New Delhi) | 7:15 AM to 9:00 AM, 15 January (1 h 45 min) |
Punya Kaal by city (15 January 2027)
| City | Punya Kaal | Maha Punya Kaal |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 7:15 AM – 5:46 PM | 7:15 AM – 9:00 AM |
| Mumbai | 7:15 AM – 6:21 PM | 7:15 AM – 9:06 AM |
| Kolkata | 6:19 AM – 5:13 PM | 6:19 AM – 8:08 AM |
| Chennai | 6:35 AM – 6:02 PM | 6:35 AM – 8:30 AM |
| Bengaluru | 6:46 AM – 6:12 PM | 6:46 AM – 8:40 AM |
| Hyderabad | 6:49 AM – 6:01 PM | 6:49 AM – 8:41 AM |
Why is Makar Sankranti on 15 January in 2027?
Makar Sankranti follows the solar calendar: it is the day the Sun enters Capricorn. When this moment falls after sunset, as at 9:14 PM on 14 January 2027, the auspicious period for bathing and charity moves to the next sunrise. This is why Sankranti is observed on 14 January in some years and 15 January in others.
What is Makar Sankranti?
Makar Sankranti marks the start of the Sun’s northward journey (Uttarayan in common usage) and the end of the harvest season in much of India. It is one of the few major Hindu festivals fixed to the solar rather than the lunar calendar. Devotees take a holy dip in rivers, especially at Prayagraj and Gangasagar, worship Surya, and give charity such as sesame, jaggery, rice and blankets.
How it is celebrated across India
- Punjab and Haryana – Lohri: a bonfire on the evening before Sankranti, with offerings of til, gur, popcorn and peanuts, and folk songs and bhangra.
- Tamil Nadu – Pongal: Bhogi (clearing old things), Thai Pongal (boiling the new rice with milk and jaggery until it overflows), Mattu Pongal (honouring cattle) and Kaanum Pongal.
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – Sankranti: Bhogi, Sankranti and Kanuma, with rangolis (muggulu) and Gangireddu (decorated bull) performances.
- Gujarat – Uttarayan: kite flying from rooftops, with undhiyu and chikki.
- Maharashtra: exchange of tilgul with the greeting “Tilgul ghya, god god bola”.
- Assam – Magh Bihu: community feasts and bonfires (meji).
- Bihar and Uttar Pradesh – Khichdi: eating and donating khichdi, and dahi-chura.
Frequently asked questions
Is Makar Sankranti 2027 on 14 or 15 January?
On Friday, 15 January 2027, because the Sun enters Capricorn after sunset on 14 January.
When is Lohri 2027?
On the evening of Thursday, 14 January 2027, the night before Makar Sankranti.
When is Pongal 2027?
Thai Pongal is on Friday, 15 January 2027, with Bhogi on 14 January and Mattu Pongal on 16 January.
