Sun’s entry into each zodiac sign (solar)
Sankranti
Sankranti is the moment the Sun moves from one zodiac sign into the next. It occurs twelve times a year, once each solar month, and marks the solar calendar’s turning points. Several Sankrantis are major festivals.
Sankranti dates in 2026
Computed for Ujjain on the sunrise-prevailing tithi (the Smarta convention); a regional day can shift by one.
- Makara SankrantiThu 15 JanSankrantiSun enters Capricorn · 3:07 PM
- Kumbha SankrantiFri 13 FebSankrantiSun enters Aquarius · 4:08 AM
- Meena SankrantiSun 15 MarSankrantiSun enters Pisces · 1:03 AM
- Mesha SankrantiWed 15 AprSankrantiSun enters Aries · 9:32 AM
- Vrishabha SankrantiSat 16 MaySankrantiSun enters Taurus · 6:22 AM
- Mithuna SankrantiTue 16 JunSankrantiSun enters Gemini · 12:53 PM
- Karka SankrantiFri 17 JulSankrantiSun enters Cancer · 11:39 PM
- Simha SankrantiTue 18 AugSankrantiSun enters Leo · 7:58 AM
- Kanya SankrantiFri 18 SepSankrantiSun enters Virgo · 7:52 AM
- Tula SankrantiSun 18 OctSankrantiSun enters Libra · 7:51 PM
- Vrishchika SankrantiTue 17 NovSankrantiSun enters Scorpio · 7:43 PM
- Dhanu SankrantiThu 17 DecSankrantiSun enters Sagittarius · 10:25 AM
Significance
The transition is treated as a sacred threshold for bathing, charity and offering to the Sun and the ancestors. Makar Sankranti (into Capricorn) and Mesha Sankranti (into Aries) are the best known; the day before a Sankranti is often kept as a fast.
How Sankranti is kept
A holy dip, charity (especially of sesame, jaggery and grains), and offering of arghya to the Sun mark the day; the eve is frequently kept as a Sankranti vrat.
FAQ
How many Sankrantis are there in a year?
Twelve, one each time the Sun enters a new zodiac sign, roughly once a month.
Which Sankranti is most important?
Makar Sankranti, when the Sun enters Capricorn and turns north (Uttarayan); Mesha Sankranti (Aries) is the solar new year in several regions.
What is done on Sankranti?
A sacred bath, charity (sesame and jaggery especially) and offering to the Sun; the eve is often fasted.
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