Uttarayan 2026: Date, Time, Rituals And Significance

Uttarayan Festival 2026 Date, Time and Significance: Uttarayan 2026 will be observed on Wednesday, January 14, marking the point at which the Sun begins its northward movement. In many parts of India the day is

also known as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan.

According to the Panchang followed in New Delhi, the Uttarayan Sankranti moment will occur at 3:13 pm on January 14.

This solar shift is linked to seasonal change. Nights begin to shorten. Daylight increases. In agricultural regions, it is also treated as the start of a new cycle tied to harvest and climate.

Uttarayan 2026: Date and time

1. Uttarayan: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
2. Makar Sankranti: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
3. Sankranti moment: 3:13 pm (New Delhi Panchang)

Astrologically, the Sun is said to move from Sagittarius (Dhanu) into Capricorn (Makar) on this day. The transition is associated with renewal and forward movement.

Uttarayan 2026: Religious and Cultural Significance

Uttarayan is traditionally dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Devotees across India mark the day with early morning baths, prayers at sunrise, and acts of charity.

In Hindu belief, the six months of Uttarayan is considered especially auspicious. Texts like the Bhagavad Gita reference this phase as a time linked with spiritual clarity and positive momentum. Because of this, many people schedule vows, marriages, and religious observances from this date onward.

Pilgrimage centres such as Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Gangasagar see large numbers of visitors who take ritual dips in sacred rivers.

Rituals Observed During Uttarayan

Common practices include:

• Bathing before sunrise
• Offering water to the rising Sun
• Lighting lamps and chanting Surya mantras
• Donating food, clothes, or grains
• Sesame seeds, jaggery, and sattvik foods are often prepared and shared.

Regional Observances on Uttarayan

The same day is observed under different names across India:

1. Uttarayan – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra
2. Makar Sankranti – North India
3. Pongal – Tamil Nadu
4. Bhogi / Bhogi Pandigai – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
5. Lohri – Punjab (on the eve)

In Gujarat, the day is marked by large-scale kite flying – with cities like Ahmedabad and Surat turning into informal festival zones.

Uttarayan continues to function as a cultural reset point. It links astronomy, agriculture, religion, and social customs into a single calendar moment – one that is still widely observed, even in urban settings.