Mon Jan 13 09:49:34 UTC 2025: ## Makar Sankranti 2025: Auspicious Time and Significance of the Harvest Festival

**Mumbai, India (January 13, 2025)** – Makar Sankranti, a major Hindu festival, will be celebrated on January 14th, 2025. This day marks the Sun’s entry into the Capricorn zodiac sign (Makara), signifying the start of Uttarayan (the northward journey of the Sun) and the end of the inauspicious Kharmas period. The auspicious time (punya kaal) for rituals is from 9:03 AM to 5:46 PM, with the most auspicious time (maha punya kaal) between 9:03 AM and 10:48 AM.

Celebrated differently across India, Makar Sankranti is known by various names, including Lohri (Punjab & Jammu), Khichdi (UP & Bihar), and Pongal (South India). Traditional practices include taking a holy bath, donating items like sesame seeds, rice, lentils, and warm clothes to the needy, and preparing and sharing special dishes like Khichdi and til laddoos (sesame seed sweets). The festival’s significance lies in the harvest season, the onset of spring, and the resumption of auspicious activities after Kharmas.

The article details the recommended Puja Vidhi (rituals), which include cleaning the home, taking a bath (preferably in a holy river or using Ganga Jal), wearing yellow clothes, offering prayers to the Sun God, reciting the Surya Chalisa and Aditya Hridaya Stotra, and performing an aarti. The article also provides a list of recommended donations and auspicious timings. This year, the festival coincides with the start of a new harvest and the beginning of brighter days, making it a particularly important time for many Hindus.

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