Mon Jan 13 13:58:44 UTC 2025: ## Makar Sankranti 2025: Auspicious Date and Time Announced; India’s Afghanistan Ties Worry Pakistan
**New Delhi, [Date of Publication]** – Makar Sankranti, a significant Hindu festival, will be celebrated on **Tuesday, January 14, 2025**. The festival marks the sun’s transition into the Capricorn zodiac sign and is observed with great enthusiasm across India. According to Vedic calendars, the sun will enter Makar Rashi at 9:03 AM. Auspicious timings for rituals include Abhijit Muhurat (12:09 PM – 12:51 PM), Vijay Muhurat (2:15 PM – 2:57 PM), and Punyakal (9:03 AM – 5:46 PM). Devotees perform rituals, take holy dips, and donate to earn blessings. Donations of sesame seeds, jaggery, Khichdi, rice, and clothes are considered particularly auspicious.
The festival also marks the end of the inauspicious period of “Kharmas,” allowing for the commencement of auspicious events like weddings. Specific mantras are recited during the celebrations, detailed in the original source. (*Note: The article emphasizes that this information is sourced from various astrological and religious texts and should be verified with experts before acting upon it.*)
In unrelated news, Pakistan is reportedly concerned about the strengthening ties between India and the Taliban in Afghanistan. India has invested over $3 billion in Afghanistan and provides humanitarian aid. The Taliban has assured the safety of Indian interests while combating the Islamic State Khorasan Province. This growing proximity between India and Afghanistan is a source of unease for Pakistan, given the Taliban’s evolving dynamics.
First Piper 