Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on January 14. This year, however, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on January 15. According to Udayatithi, the transit of the Sun God in Capricorn will occur at 08:43 on the night of January 14, and Makar Sankranti will be celebrated the next day January 15, 2023.


On this day, bathing and donating are especially important. Many exceptional and auspicious yogas are being formed this year on Makar Sankranti, which may explain why the contribution is so significant on Makar Sankranti. 


According to Drik Panchang, the interval between Makar Sankranti and 40 Ghatis (approximately 16 hours for Indian locations if 1 Ghati duration is 24 minutes) is considered fortunate for auspicious work. Punya Kaal is the duration of forty Ghatis. During Punya Kaal, Sankranti activities such as bathing, offering Naivedhya (food offered to deity) to Lord Surya, offering charity or Dakshina, completing Shraddha rituals, and breaking fast or Parana should be performed.


If Makar Sankranti falls after sunset, all Punya Kaal activities are postponed until the following day's sunrise. As a result, all Punya Kaal activities should take place during the day.



  • Punya Kala Makara Sankranti - 07:15 AM to 05:46 PM (Duration: 10 hours and 31 minutes)

  • Makara Sankranti Maha Punya Kala - 07:15 AM to 09:00 AM (Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes)

  • Sankranti Karana: Balava

  • Sankranti Day: Saturday 

  • Observation Date: January 15, 2023

  • Transit Date: January 14, 2023

  • Sankranti Moment: 08:57 PM, Jan 14

  • Sankranti Ghati: 37 (Ratrimana)

  • Sankranti Moonsign: Kanya Kanya

  • Sankranti Nakshatra: Chitra (Maitra Sangyaka)


Makar Sankranti is a significant day in Vedic astrology because the Sun enters Makar Rashi (the Capricorn zodiac). The Sun is worshipped in Hinduism as Surya Deva, who nurtures all living beings on Earth. Although all twelve days in the Hindu calendar when Surya Deva transits a Rashi are significant for worshipping Surya Deva, taking religious baths in holy water bodies, and performing charitable activities, the day when Surya Deva begins moving into Makar Rashi is considered the most auspicious day of the year to worship Lord Surya.