Masa Sankranti Dates 2026

Sankranti is the day the Sun moves from one zodiac sign (rashi) into the next. It happens once every month, twelve times a year, which is why it is called Masa Sankranti. Holy bathing, charity and pitru tarpanam during the punya kalam of a Sankranti are considered highly meritorious.

What Is Masa Sankranti?

Unlike tithi-based festivals, Sankranti depends on the movement of the Sun. The twelve Sankrantis are named after the rashis: Mesha, Vrishabha, Mithuna, Karkataka, Simha, Kanya, Tula, Vrishchika, Dhanu, Makara, Kumbha and Meena Sankranti. The panchangam fixes a specific span of time from the moment of the Sun's transit as the punya kalam.

The Important Sankrantis

• Makara Sankranti: Start of Uttarayanam. For Telugu people it is the big three-day festival of Bhogi, Sankranti and Kanuma.
• Karkataka Sankranti: Start of Dakshinayanam, a period when worship of ancestors gains importance.
• Dhanu Sankranti: Start of Dhanurmasam, with Tiruppavai recitation in temples, muggulu and Haridasu songs in the streets.
• Mesha and Tula Sankranti: Known as Vishuvat Sankrantis, around the time day and night are nearly equal.

What to Do on Sankranti

• Take a bath during the punya kalam, in a river or at home with a little Ganga water added.
• Offer arghyam to Surya and recite Aditya Hrudayam or Surya Ashtottaram.
• Many families remember their elders and perform pitru tarpanam.
• Donate rice, sesame, jaggery, clothes or fruit as per your capacity.
• Eat a sattvic meal and stay away from quarrels and harsh words.

Significance

Surya is the visible God, and each change of his rashi marks a new step in the wheel of time. Elders say that bathing, japa and charity at this junction give manifold merit. Panchangam makers also treat Sankranti days carefully when fixing muhurthams. Some families avoid starting new ventures on Sankranti, while others reserve the day for charity alone.

May every Sankranti bring health, light and prosperity to your home by the grace of Surya Narayana.