Makar Sankranti
History & Mythology
When the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara), it begins its northward journey called Uttarayana, considered supremely auspicious as days grow longer and warmer. According to the Mahabharata, the great patriarch Bhishma Pitamah lay on his bed of arrows for months after the Kurukshetra war, mortally wounded. Though it was within his power to choose the moment of his own death—a boon granted by his father Shantanu—he waited patiently for the sacred Uttarayana to begin. On Makar Sankranti, with the Sun entering its northward arc, Bhishma finally released his life-breath, departing in the most auspicious of all moments.
The festival is celebrated across India by different names—Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Lohri in Punjab, and Magh Bihu in Assam. Kite-flying has become iconic in Gujarat, symbolising the soul's yearning for liberation toward the divine. The ritual bath in sacred rivers on this day is believed to wash away all sins accumulated through the preceding year, as the transition point of the Sun is held to purify the waters running beneath it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these using Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Most Hindu festivals are tied to specific Tithis, which is why their Gregorian calendar dates change each year.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year — and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the calendar with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Navratri, and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing festival rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara, and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika calculates the precise muhurta for each festival based on local sunrise, Tithi end times, and auspicious Nakshatras.
What is Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha) when Moon and Sun are 180° apart. Amavasya is the new moon day when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant in the Hindu calendar — Purnima for celebrations and Amavasya for ancestor rituals (Pitru Tarpan). Festivals like Holi, Guru Purnima, and Sharad Purnima all fall on Purnima.