Makar Sankranti 2027: date, punya kaal and what to donate

When is Makar Sankranti in 2027? In New Delhi, Makar Sankranti 2027 is kept on Friday 15 January 2027. The Sun enters Makara (sidereal Capricorn) on the night of Thursday 14 January, after sunset. When that happens, the day's bath, prayers and giving move to the next morning. So the punya kaal in New Delhi runs from 7:16 AM to 5:46 PM on 15 January, and the most auspicious part, the maha punya kaal, runs from 7:16 AM to 9:00 AM.

Makar Sankranti 2027 at a glance (New Delhi)

	New Delhi (IST)
Sun enters Makara	Night of Thursday 14 January, after sunset
Day kept	Friday 15 January 2027
Punya kaal	7:16 AM to 5:46 PM, 15 January
Maha punya kaal	7:16 AM to 9:00 AM, 15 January

Why it is on the 15th and not the 14th

Makar Sankranti is a solar festival. It is not tied to a tithi of the Moon but to the moment the Sun crosses into Makara rashi in the sidereal zodiac. That is why it falls on 14 or 15 January almost every year, unlike most Hindu festivals, which move around by up to a month.

Drik Panchang explains the rule this way: the good time for Sankranti acts lasts for a period after the Sun's entry, called the punya kaal. If the entry happens after sunset, the punya kaal activities are moved to the next day's sunrise, because they should be done in daylight. In 2027 the entry is after sunset on the 14th, so the 15th is the day.

Punya kaal and maha punya kaal

• Punya kaal is the window for the Sankranti bath, offering water and prayers to Surya, giving charity and breaking a fast. In 2027, because the Sun's entry was in the night, it covers the whole daylight of 15 January in New Delhi: sunrise to sunset.
• Maha punya kaal is the most highly regarded part. Drik Panchang gives it as the first five ghatis after sunrise when the Sankranti happened the night before. A ghati is one-thirtieth of the day here, so the maha punya kaal is the first sixth of the daylight: 7:16 AM to 9:00 AM.

If you can, do the bath and the main giving in the morning window. If you can't, the rest of the punya kaal still counts.

What is traditionally donated

Giving (daan) is at the heart of the day. What families give varies by region, but some items come up again and again:

• Til (sesame) and jaggery, often as laddoos or chikki. Wikipedia's article notes that sweets of sesame and jaggery are a common part of the festival across India.
• Khichdi, or the uncooked rice and dal for it. In parts of North India the festival is even called Khichdi.
• Warm clothes and blankets, which make sense in the coldest weeks of the year.
• Food grains and a meal for those who need it.

Give what is useful to the person receiving it. A small, sincere gift is in keeping with the day. There is no fixed amount, and nothing here needs to be bought from anyone in particular.

How it is kept around India

The same day carries different names. Wikipedia's article describes Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat (known for kite flying), Magh Bihu in Assam and Maghi in Punjab, where Lohri is the festival just before it. Many people take a holy dip in a river, and the article notes the large crowds at sacred places such as Prayagraj and Varanasi.

For every other festival date in the year, see our Hindu festival calendar 2027.

How these times were worked out

Every date and time in this article was computed by Proper Pandit's own panchang engine for New Delhi (28.61°N, 77.21°E, Indian Standard Time). We then checked each one against Drik Panchang's page for New Delhi on 31 October 2026. Where the two differ, it is by a minute or two, which comes from rounding and small differences in how sunrise and the Moon are calculated. We round the start of a window up and the end down, so a window shown here never runs past the one you would get from a more exact calculation.

Your own city will differ. Sunrise and sunset move with latitude and longitude, so look up your city on our panchang page, and if your family priest or temple follows a different timing, follow them.

Questions people ask

Is Makar Sankranti on 14 or 15 January in 2027? For New Delhi, it is kept on Friday 15 January 2027, because the Sun enters Makara after sunset on the 14th.

What is the punya kaal time for Makar Sankranti 2027? In New Delhi it is 7:16 AM to 5:46 PM on 15 January, with the maha punya kaal from 7:16 to 9:00 AM.

What should I donate on Makar Sankranti? Til and jaggery, khichdi or its ingredients, warm clothes, blankets and food are the most common gifts. Follow your family's custom.

Is the date the same in every city? Not always. The Sun's entry is one moment for everyone, but sunset differs by place, and that decides whether the day moves. Check your own city's panchang.