Makar Sankranti 2026 in USA: Wed, Jan 14 — Puja Time by City

How the Makar Sankranti date is decided

The Sun's entry into Makara (sidereal) — a solar event, so the date is the same worldwide except when it falls near midnight.

Significance

Uttarayan is regarded as the day of the gods — Bhishma Pitamah waited for Uttarayan on his bed of arrows and left his body after Makar Sankranti. The bath and charity of this day (especially sesame, jaggery, khichdi, blankets) give imperishable merit.

Punya-kaal: from the moment of the Sankranti until sunset that day (or 16 ghatis); if the Sankranti happens after sunset, the next day is the festival day. This is why it is sometimes 14 and sometimes 15 January — the date above is from the engine. The maha-punya-kaal is about 2 ghatis (48 minutes) right after the Sankranti.

Women's customs: sharing tilgul ('Tilgul ghya, god bola'), haldi-kumkum, giving vaan/bayana to married women, the 'bornahan' of a new bride or child; in Bihar-Purvanchal dahi-chura-tilkut, the eldest woman of the house giving sesame to all with her blessing.

Puja vidhi (brief)

1. In Brahma Muhurat/at sunrise (time above) bathe in a river or pond, or at home with sesame and Gangajal added to the water — the 'til-snan'; new/clean clothes.
2. Arghya of water, sesame and red flowers to the rising Sun from a copper lota — 'Om Ghrini Suryaya Namah' or the Aditya Hridaya; bow to the Uttarayan Sun.
3. Worship of Surya and Vishnu at the home temple; bhog of sesame-jaggery laddoos and khichdi (rice with urad/moong dal); Tulsi leaf.
4. Charity (in the punya-kaal, before sunset): black sesame, jaggery, raw khichdi ingredients (rice-dal-ghee-salt-turmeric), blankets/woollens, ghee, oil — to a Brahmin, the needy, a gaushala; 'til-daan' is the greatest charity of the day.
5. Women: haldi-kumkum, tilgul and bayana (vaan — 13 items: vessel/comb/bangles etc.) to married women; the eldest woman gives sesame to everyone with her blessing; the bornahan of a new bride/infant (a shower of ber, sesame and puffed rice).
6. Kites during the day (Gujarat-Rajasthan-UP), worship of the new crop in the fields, sesame-jaggery to cows and bullocks; a khichdi dinner with the family in the evening.
7. Lohri a day earlier (Punjab-Haryana): a bonfire at night with offerings of sesame, rewri, peanuts and corn, circling the fire, the 'Sundar Mundariye' song, special for homes with a new bride or newborn.
8. Pongal (Tamil Nadu): Bhogi (burning old things on day one) → Thai Pongal (boiling milk and rice over in a new pot — 'Pongalo Pongal!') → Mattu Pongal (cows and bullocks) → Kaanum Pongal (family gathering).

Frequently asked questions

Is Makar Sankranti 2026 on the same day in USA and India?

Yes — Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

What is the puja time for Makar Sankranti 2026 in New York?

Punya Kaal (from sunrise — Sankranti was at night): 7:18 AM to 4:52 PM (EST). Other cities are in the table above.

Which time zone are these timings in?

Each row is in that city's own local time with daylight saving applied (Eastern Time (EST/EDT) for New York).

Why sesame and jaggery?

Sesame and jaggery give warmth and strength in the cold (Ayurveda); in the katha Shani welcomed his father Surya with them; sesame charity is linked to the ancestors and moksha — so eat, share and donate.

Are Lohri, Pongal, Bihu and Makar Sankranti the same?

All celebrate the Sun's entry into Capricorn and the new harvest — Lohri the night before (Punjab), four-day Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Magh Bihu (Assam), Uttarayan (Gujarat), Khichdi (UP-Bihar) — different names and dishes, one Sun.

What is Kharmas and why does it end with the Sankranti?

The month the Sun stays in Sagittarius (mid-December to Makar Sankranti) is Kharmas/Malmas — weddings and griha pravesh are avoided; with the entry into Capricorn, Uttarayan and auspicious works resume. Wedding dates are on the muhurat page.

Daily panchang in USA

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