Fri Jan 02 17:20:00 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:

Headline: Auspicious Start to New Year for Sanatan Dharma Followers: January Packed with Festivals and Favorable Alignments

[City, Date] – The new year is set to begin on a spiritually uplifting note for followers of Sanatan Dharma, with the month of January brimming with significant festivals and auspicious astrological alignments. From Paush Purnima to Basant Panchami, the calendar is filled with opportunities for devotees to engage in prayer, rituals, and acts of charity.

According to Acharya Rakesh Jha, Paush Purnima, a day for holy baths and donations, will be celebrated with the auspicious combination of Ardra Nakshatra and Brahma Yoga. This full moon is considered a union of the Sun and Moon, and worshipping the Sun God during this month is believed to liberate individuals from the cycle of life and death. Taking a dip in holy rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna on this day is considered especially beneficial.

Makar Sankranti, marking the transition of the Sun into the Makar (Capricorn) zodiac sign, falls on January 14th. This festival, celebrated with the auspicious combination of Anuradha Nakshatra and Sarvartha Siddhi Amrit Yoga, signifies the end of Kharmas, a period considered inauspicious for undertaking new ventures. Bathing in the Ganga on this day is said to be equivalent to performing a thousand Ashwamedha Yagyas.

The month also includes Mauni Amavasya on January 18th. This new moon day, observed with silence and reverence, will be marked by the presence of Purvashadha Nakshatra, Harshan Yoga, Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga, and Jayad Yoga. Devotees will engage in silent prayer and charitable acts, with donations made on this day believed to yield a hundredfold return in merit. Donating items like sesame oil, sesame sweets, blankets, and clothing can alleviate planetary defects.

Adding to the spiritual fervor, the Gupt Navratri, a nine-day period dedicated to the worship of the ten Mahavidyas, begins on January 19th. This period is particularly significant for devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi, Paramba Devi, and Kamakhya Devi, and involves rigorous rituals and practices.

Basant Panchami, celebrating the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, will be observed on January 23rd. The day will be marked by the auspicious combination of Purva Bhadrapada and Uttara Bhadrapada Nakshatras, along with Parigh Yoga, Shiva Yoga, and Ravi Yoga.

Adding to the celestial events of the year, Acharya Jha noted that 4 eclipses will occur this year, two solar and two lunar. Of these four, only one lunar eclipse will be visible in India.

Key January Festivals:

  • January 3: Paush Purnima
  • January 14: Makar Sankranti
  • January 18: Mauni Amavasya
  • January 19: Gupt Navratri Begins
  • January 23: Basant Panchami
  • January 25: Achala Saptami

With a blend of ancient traditions and auspicious astrological alignments, January promises a spiritually enriching start to the new year for followers of Sanatan Dharma.

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