Makar Sankranti, observed in the Hindu month of Paush, marks the entry of the Sun God into Capricorn. Devotees in Sanatan Dharma perform unique worship on this day, also known as Uttarayan when the Sun heads north. In the year 2024, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated, and it’s essential to know the auspicious timings for the festivities.
Astrologer Pandit Kalki Ram from Ayodhya predicts that on January 15 at 2:43 AM, the Sun God will transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn, marking the onset of Makar Sankranti. This festival, celebrated on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Pausha, falls on January 15 this year. The auspicious time for puja during this period is 7:15 AM to 5:46 PM.
Pandit Kalki Ram suggests that Makar Sankranti is celebrated grandly nationwide. Devotees participate in rituals like bathing in holy rivers, meditation, worship, chanting, and charitable acts. The tradition includes offering Arghya to the Lord Sun, wearing yellow attire, and presenting water to the Sun God. Reciting Surya Chalisa during the puja is believed to bring relief from both joy and sorrow, fostering peace and prosperity.
Offering sesame laddus and khichdi to God is of great importance to Makar Sankranti. If a river bath is not feasible, Pandit Kalki Ram recommends a home bath with Ganga water mixed in, along with the tradition of offering water to the Sun. Makar Sankranti, a revered festival in religious texts, holds significance in Hindu tradition, with bathing in the holy Ganga believed to bring relief from life’s troubles. The day marks the commencement of Sun God’s Uttarayan, and Hinduism suggests the opportunity for virtuous results through acts of charity and benevolence on this occasion.
The Makar Sankranti morning ritual involves cleaning your house, taking a bath with Ganga water or in a holy river, purifying yourself with Aachman, donning yellow attire, and offering water to the Sun. Make an offering of floating sesame seeds in a flowing stream. Perform a comprehensive worship of the Sun God, recite Surya Chalisa, and conclude with an aarti, bhog offering, and prayer for happiness, peace, and wealth. Seal the celebration with a charitable act.