2026 Makar Sankranti in Ujjain: Date, Punya Kaal, Maha Punya Kaal, Sankranti Phalam & Complete Ritual Guide

Makar Sankranti 2026 marks one of the most sacred solar transitions in Hindu tradition—the moment when Surya Dev enters Makara Rashi (Capricorn) and begins Uttarayan, the northward journey of the Sun.
Unlike most Hindu festivals based on the lunar calendar, Makar Sankranti follows the solar calendar, making it astronomically precise and spiritually fixed.

In the ancient city of Ujjain, a globally renowned centre of Vedic astronomy and Jyotisha, Makar Sankranti holds exceptional importance. The festival here is observed with strict Panchang calculations, sacred bathing traditions, Surya worship, and daan (charity), all performed within the prescribed Punya Kaal.

This complete guide covers exact Ujjain timings, Punya Kaal & Maha Punya Kaal, Sankranti Phalam 2026, detailed rituals to perform and avoid, and the regional significance of the festival across India.

Makar Sankranti 2026 Date & Day (Ujjain)

• Festival: Makar Sankranti
• Date: 14 January 2026
• Day: Wednesday (बुधवार)
• Location: Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Makar Sankranti is among the rare Hindu festivals celebrated on a fixed date every year, highlighting the scientific accuracy of Vedic astronomy and the Sun’s central role in Sanatan Dharma.

Exact Sankranti Moment 2026 (Ujjain)

• Sankranti Transit Time: 03:13 PM
• Date: 14 January 2026

This precise moment marks the Sun’s entry into Capricorn and forms the basis for calculating Punya Kaal and Maha Punya Kaal.

Makar Sankranti Punya Kaal & Maha Punya Kaal (Ujjain)

All auspicious actions—snan, daan, Surya Arghya, Shraddha, and parana—must be performed only during Punya Kaal.

Punya Kaal Muhurta

• Time: 03:13 PM to 06:02 PM
• Duration: 2 Hours 49 Minutes

Maha Punya Kaal Muhurta

• Time: 03:13 PM to 05:01 PM
• Duration: 1 Hour 49 Minutes

Why Maha Punya Kaal is Special

Scriptures state that actions performed during Maha Punya Kaal yield manifold spiritual merit, especially charity, Surya worship, and sacred bathing.

What is Punya Kaal on Makar Sankranti?

Punya Kaal is the auspicious period beginning from the exact Sankranti moment.

• 1 Ghati = 24 minutes
• 40 Ghatis ≈ 16 hours

All sacred activities related to Makar Sankranti are recommended only during this window.

Importance of Punya Kaal

During Punya Kaal:

• Holy bath purifies body and mind
• Charity yields lasting punya
• Surya Arghya strengthens spiritual discipline
• Shraddha and Tarpan become highly effective

Special Rule: If Sankranti Occurs After Sunset

Shastric rules clearly mention:

• If Sankranti happens after sunset, Punya Kaal does not begin the same day
• All rituals are postponed to the next day after sunrise
• Punya Kaal rituals must always occur during daytime

In 2026, Sankranti occurs during daytime, so all rituals must be done on 14 January itself.

Mahapunya Kaal: The Most Auspicious Window

According to classical Panchang principles:

• If Sankranti occurs during daytime → First 1 Ghati (24 minutes) after Sankranti
• If Sankranti occurs after sunset → First 5 Ghatis after next day sunrise

Whenever available, Mahapunya Kaal should always be preferred over Punya Kaal.

Panchang & Astrological Details of Makar Sankranti 2026

• Sankranti Karana: Balava
• Nakshatra: Anuradha (Maitra Sangyaka)
• Moon Sign: Vrishchika (Scorpio)
• Sankranti Day Lord: Budh (Mercury)
• Sankranti Vahana: Bagha (Tiger)
• Clothes: Peeta (Yellow)
• Weapon: Gada (Mace)
• Food Offering: Payasa (Sweet Rice)

These elements collectively determine the Sankranti Phalam, reflecting the cosmic tone of the year.

Sankranti Phalam 2026: What the Year Indicates

Based on traditional Sankranti Phalam interpretations:

• Favorable conditions for governance and administration
• Increase in agricultural yield and grain reserves
• General public health remains stable
• Periodic fear or anxiety may arise—patience advised
• Improvement in international harmony and cooperation

Such readings are traditionally used to assess the social, economic, and moral climate of the year ahead.

Sacred Rituals to Perform on Makar Sankranti

During Punya Kaal, devotees should perform:

• Holy bath (Snan) in river or clean water
• Surya Arghya (offering water to the Sun)
• Charity (Daan): sesame seeds, jaggery, grains, clothes
• Naivedya offering to Surya Dev
• Shraddha or Tarpan (if applicable)
• Parana (breaking fast)

For scientific understanding of solar transitions and seasonal cycles, authoritative explanations are available through NASA Earth Observatory, which explains how Earth–Sun positioning governs seasonal change.

Regional Names of Makar Sankranti in India

Makar Sankranti is celebrated under different names across India:

• Tamil Nadu: Pongal
• Gujarat & Rajasthan: Uttarayan
• Punjab & Haryana: Maghi

Despite regional diversity, the core Vedic essence remains the same—celebration of Surya’s Uttarayan and gratitude for nature’s abundance.

Spiritual Significance of Makar Sankranti 2026

Makar Sankranti 2026 in Ujjain represents a rare convergence of astronomy, devotion, and disciplined ritual practice. Observing the festival strictly within Maha Punya Kaal, honouring Surya Dev, and performing daan with sincerity can bring prosperity, clarity, and spiritual elevation.

For deeper spiritual timelines, vrat-parv details, and city-wise muhurta updates, explore our Ujjain Panchang & Festival Calendar on MahakalTimes.com.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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