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Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area
Makar Sankranti
Dates for the Bay Area
- Wednesday, 14 January 2026Major festival
- Thursday, 14 January 2027Major festivalnext
Why it matters
Marks the Sun’s entry into Makara (Capricorn) and the northward seasonal transition traditionally associated with increasing light and auspicious activity.
The story behind it
Across India it is linked to solar worship, harvest gratitude, pilgrimage and regional customs such as kite flying, sesame sweets and cattle honoring.
Prayers and worship
Surya arghya, Aditya Hridayam or Surya prayers, charity, sacred bathing where customary and thanksgiving for the harvest.
Fasting and devotional customs
Fasting and household customs vary; follow the temple or family tradition for this observance.
What is typically offered
Sesame and jaggery sweets, grains, sugarcane, new harvest foods, lamps and donations.
Visiting a temple that day
This is a solar festival with many regional names—Pongal, Uttarayan and related harvest observances may be listed separately.
Spiritual themes
Gratitude, light, generosity, seasonal renewal and respect for nature.
Request this pooja
Sri Kumar Gurukkal performs Makar Sankranti observances at your home, at a temple, or with family joining remotely.
Request a pooja Add 14 Jan 2027 to calendarKeep this in your calendar
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Subscribe to the festival calendar Share on WhatsAppMajor harvest/solar festival. This date was validated against a location-specific Northern-California Panchāṅgam source. Dates are compiled for the Fremont / Bay Area location and checked against Northern-California Panchāṅgam references. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →