☀️ Monthly Sankranti (Sun's Zodiac Entry) 2026
When is the next Sankranti — the day the Sun enters a new sign each month: the punya-kaal for bathing and charity, Surya-arghya, and month-specific traditions (Vishwakarma Puja on Kanya, Tula-snan on Tula, Dhanurmas from Dhanu).
- संक्रांति — Monday, 16 November 2026
- संक्रांति — Wednesday, 16 December 2026
- संक्रांति — Thursday, 14 January 2027
- संक्रांति — Saturday, 13 February 2027
- संक्रांति — Monday, 15 March 2027
- संक्रांति — Wednesday, 14 April 2027
- संक्रांति — Saturday, 15 May 2027
- संक्रांति — Tuesday, 15 June 2027
- संक्रांति — Saturday, 17 July 2027
- संक्रांति — Tuesday, 17 August 2027
- संक्रांति — Friday, 17 September 2027
- संक्रांति — Sunday, 17 October 2027
Sankranti is the day the Sun leaves one zodiac sign and enters the next — twelve such days a year, each opening a solar month. The shastras call this the punya-kaal of bathing and charity: a bath, japa, daan and tarpan done on this day are said to bear manifold fruit.
Makar Sankranti (January) and Mesha Sankranti (Baisakhi) are the most celebrated and have their own detailed pages. This page covers the shared method and month-wise traditions of the remaining monthly Sankrantis (Vrishabha, Mithuna, Karka, Simha, Kanya, Tula, Vrishchika, Dhanu, Kumbha, Meena).
Significance — why this vrat
The Sun signifies the soul, health, the father's line and state-favour — the day of its sign-entry is the firmest unit of the solar calendar; the solar months of South India, Bengal, Assam and Kerala begin on this very day.
In the Puranic tradition, charity given on Sankranti — sesame, grain, clothes, jaggery, ghee — is called akshaya (undiminishing), especially within the punya-kaal around the moment of entry.
Astrologically the Sun's sign-change is a major transit milestone — whichever house the Sun enters in your chart stays activated for the month (details on the transit page).
Puja vidhi (step by step)
The Sankranti method is simple — a punya-kaal bath, Surya-arghya, charity and the month's special worship. At home:
- Rise before sunrise and bathe — at a tirtha or river if possible, else at home adding Gangajal and sesame to the water.
- Offer arghya to the rising Sun from a copper vessel with water, roli, akshat and a red flower — chanting Om Suryaya Namah or the Aditya-Hridaya.
- Give charity within the punya-kaal — sesame, jaggery, grain (rice-dal), clothes, ghee or dakshina, with your own hands.
- Remembering the ancestors (tarpan) is also traditional — especially on Karka and Makar Sankranti, the two ayana turns.
- Add the month's special worship — Vishwakarma Puja on Kanya Sankranti (tools and machines), Tula-snan on Tula, the Dhanurmas rules from Dhanu (see Home Traditions below).
- Keep the day sattvik; those who fast take one simple meal or fruit — a waterless fast is not the tradition.
📿 How to do Monthly Sankranti (Sun's Zodiac Entry) — detailed vidhi, samagri checklist & rules →
Puja samagri checklist
Sankranti is chiefly a bathing-and-charity observance — the list is daan-centred:
- Copper vessel for arghya, roli, akshat, red flowers
- Sesame (black/white) and jaggery — the principal Sankranti daan
- Grain for charity: rice, dal (khichdi provisions), flour
- Season-appropriate clothes or blankets (special in the winter Sankrantis)
- Ghee, lamp, dakshina; flowers and incense for the tools in Vishwakarma Puja (Kanya)
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Open panchang →Vrat katha (the story)
With the Sun's Makar entry begins Uttarayana and with the Karka entry Dakshinayana — the Puranic day and night of the gods; Bhishma waited on his bed of arrows for Uttarayana.
📖 Read the full Monthly Sankranti (Sun's Zodiac Entry) vrat katha →
Til-gud, khichdi and seasonal grain — the Sankranti plate
Regional customs
Each month's Sankranti has its own colour — the main month-traditions:
A custom, tale, song or dish heard from your grandmother — 2-4 lines; after reading we add it on this page with your region's name (the phone is never shown — only to ask you back).
✅ Received — after reading we will add it on this page in 1-2 days. Thank you!Something went wrong — please try again.⏳ Sending…Do's and don'ts
✅ Do
- Bathe and give within the punya-kaal — the hours around the entry moment are best (see the timing card above).
- Offer arghya only to the rising Sun; never stare at the Sun directly.
- Always include sesame in the daan — the foremost Sankranti offering.
- On Kanya Sankranti clean and worship your tools and vehicles (where Vishwakarma Puja is the family tradition).
- After Dhanu Sankranti fix major auspicious events only with proper muhurta (the Kharmas rule).
❌ Don't
- Do not turn away anyone asking for charity on Sankranti — give as you can.
- Avoid quarrels, untruth and tamasik food in the punya-kaal.
- Let the arghya water fall on clean ground or a Tulsi bed — never where feet tread.
- Do not hold weddings or griha-pravesh in Kharmas (Dhanu month) without special muhurta consideration.
Frequently asked questions
When is this month's Sankranti? 2026
The date card above shows the exact day — computed from the Sun's actual sign-entry (Swiss Ephemeris).
What exactly is the punya-kaal?
The window around the Sun's entry moment — traditionally about 16 ghatis (roughly 6.5 hours) on either side; bathing and charity in it carry the highest fruit.
Is a fast compulsory on every Sankranti?
No — Sankranti is chiefly a day of bathing and charity. Those who observe a vrat take one sattvik meal or fruit.
Where are Makar and Mesha Sankranti covered?
On their own detailed pages — Makar Sankranti (Khichdi/Pongal/Lohri) and Mesha Sankranti (Baisakhi/Vishu/Bihu) — linked below under Also Read.
How is Vishwakarma Puja done on Kanya Sankranti?
Clean the tools, machines, vehicles and computers; worship them with flowers, roli-akshat and incense; give them rest that day; distribute sweets — the simple home-and-shop method.
Enter your WhatsApp number — a day before every major vrat you get the date, muhurat and samagri checklist. Free; stop any time.
✅ Saved — you will get a message a day before the next vrat.Something went wrong — please try again.⏳ Saving…Also read: Makar Sankranti (Khichdi) · Mesha Sankranti — Baisakhi/Vishu/Bihu · The Sun's transit results · Amavasya (bath & charity)
⚠️ This description follows traditional method and folk belief; month-traditions vary by region. The custom of your own family and ishta stands foremost.
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