Makar Sankranti 2026 — Lucknow
Makar Sankranti marks the Sun's entry into sidereal Capricorn (Makara). It is one of the few Hindu festivals fixed by the Sun rather than the Moon, so it falls on 14 or 15 January almost every year, and it begins the auspicious six months of Uttarayana.
In 2026, Makar Sankranti is on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
- Sun enters Makara: 14 Jan 2026, 3:07 PM
Date and timings for Lucknow.
How the date is fixed
Makar Sankranti is decided by the day the Sun enters the sign — or the next day if it enters after sunset.
Calculated for Lucknow. Festival dates can differ by a day between cities and between regional traditions; your family priest's panchang has the final word.
How it is celebrated
People take a holy dip in rivers — the Ganga Sagar mela and the Prayagraj Magh mela are the largest — give sesame, jaggery, khichdi and blankets in charity, fly kites in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and share til-gul sweets in Maharashtra. The hours after the Sun's entry (punya kaal) are considered the most meritorious for bathing and charity.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?
In 2026, Makar Sankranti is on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. (Lucknow)
Why do calendars sometimes show different dates for Makar Sankranti?
Hindu festivals follow the lunar tithi, which begins and ends at different clock times. Each festival has a rule about which part of the day the tithi must cover — sunrise, midday, dusk or midnight. When the tithi straddles two days, calendars that apply the rule for a different city, or a different tradition, can land on different days. We show the rule we used and the tithi timings so you can check.