ALL SANKRANTI OF SUN TRANSITS

LIST OF ALL 12 SANKRANTI

MAKAR SANKRANTI – Sun enters Makar or Capricorn sign in mid-January.

Makar Sankranti, celebrated across India under different names, is the most important Sankranti of all 12 Sun transits. This harvest festival in the Hindu month of Magha is observed by taking a dip in holy rivers, taking sesame based sweets and flying kites. This event marks Uttarayana, or sun’s movement from southern to northern hemisphere.

KUMBHA SANKRANTI - Sun enters kumbha or Aquarius sign in mid-February.

Kumbha Sankranti, also known as Kumbha Sankramanam is celebrated on the first day of Hindu month of Phalguna. It is an auspicious day to take holy dip in river Ganga or other sacred rivers to attain salvation and be considered blessed with humanitarian acts of charity, while worshipping Yama and Surya.

MEENA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Meena or Pieces sign in mid-March.

Meena Sankranti is the last Sankranti of Hindu calendar year in the month of Chaitra. This period is considered Kharmasa or Malamasa, and all kinds of auspicious activities are prohibited as per Hindu beliefs. Spiritual seekers donate sesame, clothes, grains, feed fodder to cow and take bath in holy rivers and focus on enlightenment during this period.

MESHA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Mesha or Aries sign in mid-April.

Mesha Sankranti , also known as Maha Vishuva or Pana Sankranti is the spring harvest festival. It marks the beginning of Hindu new year in the month of Baishakh and is celebrated in different states under different names such as Baisakhi, Bihu, Ugadi, Vishu, Puthandu etc. Sun acquires maximum strength for astrological results during this transit.

VRISHABHA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Vrishabha or Taurus sign in mid-May.

Vrishabha Sankranti, also called Vrushabha Sankraman starts with the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. On this day, traditionally ‘Gau Daan’ or gifting of the sacred cow to family members and near ones are considered highly auspicious. Other rituals include bathing in holy rivers and performing Pitru Tarpan for forefathers and Shanti Puja.

MITHUNA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Mithuna or Gemini sign in mid-June.

Mithuna Sankranti, also known as Raja Sankranti or Swing festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashadha. The day is considered mother earth’s annual menstrual cycle, also known as Raja Parba or Ambubachi. The event, which also symbolizes the advent of monsoon, is more religiously observed in eastern and north-eastern states of India.

KARKA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Karkat or Cancer sign in mid-July.

Karka Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu month of Shravana, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. On Sankranti, believers take holy dip in sacred rivers, offer charity, fast and pray to Lord Vishnu. This day also marks the end of 6-month of Sun’s northern journey, i.e. Uttarayan and beginning of Dakshinayan, when it is believed that Gods go to sleep for six months.

SIMHA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Simha or Leo sign in mid-August.

Simha Sankranti, celebrated in the Hindu month of Bhadra is also the New Year in Malayalam calendar of Kerala. As Sun gains in strength by entering its own house - Leo, believers worship Sun God, Lord Vishnu and Lord Narasimha on this day. Further, devotees donate wheat, red clothes, red sandalwood, copper, jaggery etc to strengthen Sun.

KANYA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Kanya or Virgo sign in mid-September.

Kanya Sankranti heralds the Hindu month of Ashwin, and the day is celebrated as Viswakarma Puja at factories as the deity is known as the ‘God of architect’. Believers also take bath in holy rivers and offer ‘tarpan’ to bring peace to souls of ancestors. Donating to the poor is also considered auspicious on this day.

TULA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Tula or Libra sign in mid-October.

Tula Sankranti, also known as Garbhana Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartika. This transit has special significance in Karnataka, where it is called 'Tula Sankrama', and people congregate on the banks of river Kaveri to take a holy dip during the entire month, pray to Sun, Goddess Laxmi and Kaveri. Astrologically, Sun gets debilitated in Tula.

VRISHCHIKA SANKRANTI – Sun enters Vrishchik or Scorpio sign in mid-November.

Vrishchika Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu month of Agrahayana. On this day, believers take a dip in sacred rivers and perform ‘Tarpan’ in remembrance of ancestors, as also donate to those in need. As Scorpio symbolizes mystery, transformation and emotional energy, Sun’s transit here brings spiritual growth and introspection among people.

DHANU SANKRANTI – Sun enters Dhanu or Sagittarius sign in mid-December.

Dhanu Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu month of Pausha, which is considered a Kharmasa or Dhanurmasa, and hence no auspicious activities are performed during this period. The festival is most prominently observed in Odisha, where people flock to Jagannath Temple in Puri to participate in ‘Pahili Bhog’. That apart, Dhanu Jatra is held for 11 days at Bargarh, which showcase theatrical plays on the life of Lord Krishna. The famous sweet, ‘Dhanu Muan’ is offered to Lord Jagannath.

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