Is Makar Sankranti 2023 On January 14 or 15? Check Date, Shubh Muhurat, Puja Rituals And Other Important Details

Makar Sankranti is a significant Hindu festival that holds great religious importance and is celebrated with much fanfare. It is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God, and marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). It also marks the beginning of the harvest season and is a time for people to worship new crops and share them with joy.

The festival of Makar Sankranti is also known by different names in various regions. According to Drik Panchang, it is marked as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Khichdi in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Uttarayanan in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and Maghi in Haryana and Punjab. Although Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the month of January, there is some uncertainty about the exact date of the festival in 2023.

This year, Makar Sankranti falls on Sunday, January 15, 2023. According to Drik Panchang, the Sankranti tithi will be at 8:57 pm on January 14. The Makar Sankranti Punya Kala, which is considered an auspicious time for performing religious rituals, will last from 7:15 am to 5:46 pm (Duration - 10 hours 31 minutes), and Makara Sankranti Maha Punya Kala, which is considered the most auspicious time, will begin at 7:15 am and end at 9:00 pm (Duration - 1 hour 45 minutes).

Makar Sankranti is celebrated as a way to honor and pay tribute to the Sun God. It is believed that during this time, the sun is at its closest point to the earth and is therefore considered to be the most powerful. In most regions, the Sankranti festivities last for two to four days. People worship the Sun God and take a dip in sacred water bodies, perform charity by giving to the less fortunate, fly kites, prepare sweets made of sesame and jaggery, worship livestock and more.

Makar Sankranti is also a time for people to come together and celebrate the abundance of the harvest season. People share their new crops with their family and friends, and participate in various cultural and traditional activities. The festival marks a time for new beginnings, the transition of the sun and the arrival of the harvest. It is celebrated as a way to honor the power of nature, and the blessings of the Sun