Sankranti literally means movement. It is the movement of Sun from one Rashi (zodiac) to the other. Vishnupadi Sankranti is the movement of Sun (Surya) to Vrishaba, Simha, Vrischika and Kumbha Rashi. The entry of Sun is also known as Vishnupadi Punyakalam. Vrishabha Sankranti (May 14 or 15) – Transit of sun from Mesha or Meda Rashi to Vrishabha Rashi (Aries to Taurus). Prayers are offered to Vishnu and Shiva on the day. Donations are made. People also perform holy dip in sacred rivers. Simha Sankranti (August 16, 17 or 18) – Transit of sun from Karka Rashi to Simha Rashi (Cancer Zodiac to Leo Zodiac) – Narasimha, Vishnu, Shiva and Surya are worshipped. Ganesha is offered special pujas and bath with coconut water. Havan is performed in the name of the various avatars of Bhagavan Vishnu. Vrischika Sankranti (November 16, 17 or 18) – Transit of sun from Tula Rashi to Vrischika Rashi (Libra to Scorpio). The famous Sabarimala Pilgrimage begins on this day. Vishnu Sahasra...

Tula Sankramana is of great importance at the origin of Kaveri River near Kodagu in Karnataka. Tula Sankramana 2025 date is October 18. Time is at 4:15 AM on Oct 18. Please note that the holy bath will be taken in the morning of October 18. Kaveri Tula Sankramana day is famous for Theerthodbhava. It is a unique annual spectacle that happens on the foothills of Brahmagiri Hills at Talakaveri in Coorg (Kodagu) in Karnataka. On the day holy water gushes from Brahmakundike, a small concave shape hole, on the Brahmagiri Hills at Talakaveri in Kodagu. Brahmakundike is the source of  Kaveri   River .  Devotees can take holy dip in a pond that is located at Brahmakundike. The holy event also marks the beginning of the month long Kaveri Jatra. Thousands of devotees tonsure their head and take holy dip in the pond. As part of the Kaveri Jatra, people perform holy dip at Triveni Sangama, confluence of the three rivers — Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyoti — and offer prayers ...

Tula Sankranti is an important day in traditional Hindu calendar and on the day sun enters the Tula Rashi (Libra Zodiac). In 2025, the date of Tula Sankranti is October 18. Sankranti time is at 4:15 AM on October 18. Please note that the holy bath will be taken in the morning of October 18. The day is of great significance in Odisha and Karnataka. On the Tula Sankranti day the Sun fully rests on the equator and on the day the length of day and night remain equal. In many regions in  India , on Tula Sankranti day Surya (Sun God) is worshipped. Prayers are offered to Surya and people also take dip in holy rivers.Performing Shradh for departed souls on the day is considered highly meritorious. Tula Sankranti is known as Garbhana Sankranti and is an important festival of Odisha. Special prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi on the day for a good harvest. In Karnataka, the day is celebrated as Kaveri Sankramana. People take holy dip on the day in the holy water that gushe...

There are 12 Sankranthi in Hinduism. Here is a look at the importance of each Sankranti. Sankranti literally means movement. It is the movement of Sun from one Rashi (zodiac) to the other. Makar Sankranti (January 14 or 15) – Transit of sun from Dhanu Rashi to Makar Rashi (Sagittarius to Capricorn) - Uttarayan starts – the daytime of Devas begin from this day. It is celebrated across the world as Sankranti, Pongal and by numerous other names. Kumbha Sankranti (February 12, 13 or 14) – Transit of sun from Makar Rashi to Kumbha Rashi (Capricorn to Aquarius). Devotees residing along the banks of holy rivers and in most eastern part of India celebrate this by taking holy dip in Ganges. Offerings are given to cows and to poor people. Meena Sankranti (March 14 or 15) - Transit of sun from Kumbha Rashi to Meena Rashi (Aquarius to Pisces). Offer are done to sun god on the day by devotees. Mesha Sankranti (April 14 or 15) – Transit of sun from Meena Rashi to Mesha or Med...

In Hindu calendar, Sankranti is the occasion in which the sun enters a zodiacal sign or Rashi. There are twelve Rashis through which the sun traverses in a year. Two of the Sankranti are very important – Makar Sankranti and Karka Sankranti. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of Uttarayan – sun traverse towards north. Karka Sankranti marks the beginning of Dakshinayana – sun traverse towards south. Mesha Sankranti is also very important in some regions as it marks the beginning of New Year in Odisha, Kerala (Vishu) and Tamil Nadu (Chithirai 1). There are two methods by which a Rashi is marked – Sayana and Nirayana. In Sayana method rashi and nakshatra starts from the Vernal Equinox – March 21. In the Nirayana method, Zeta Pisum a fixed star in Revati Nakshatra is considered as the starting point. Though the starting point in the Nirayana system is always fied, the position of the Vernal Equinox gradually changes. As a result, the entry of the sun in Makar Rashi, accord...

Kumbha Sankranti, Kumbha Sankranti, marks the beginning of the Sun’s transition from Kumbha to Meena or from Aquarius to Pisces. In 2026, the date of Kumbha Sankranti is February 13. Time is at 8:22 AM on February 13. There are 12 Sankranthi in a Hindu Solar Calendar and Kumbha Sankranti is the second last in the cycle. It is an auspicious day for many communities in eastern parts of India . ‘San’ means plenty and good and ‘Kranti’ means radical change and Sankranthi means plenty of good change. Meena Sankranti day is of importance is Odisha.

Kanya Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun’s transition from Simha to Kanya (Leo to Virgo). There are 12 Sankranthi in a Hindu Solar Calendar and Kanya Sankranti is the fifth in one cycle. It is an auspicious day for many communities in Odisha and South India. In 2025, the date of Kanya Sankranti is September 17. Time is at 5:19 PM on September 17. ‘San’ means plenty and good and ‘Kranti’ means radical change and Sankranthi means plenty of good change. 

Theerthodbhava is a unique annual spectacle that happens on the foothills of Brahmagiri Hills at Talakaveri in Coorg (Kodagu) in Karnataka. Annually holy water gushes from Brahmakundike, a small concave shape hole, on the Brahmagiri Hills at Talakaveri in Kodagu. Brahmakundike is the source of Kaveri River . Theerthodbhava 2025 date is October 18. Time is at 4:15 AM on October 18. Devotees can take holy dip in a pond that is located at Brahmakundike. The holy event also marks the beginning of the month long Kaveri Jatra. Thousands of devotees tonsure their head and take holy dip in the pond. As part of the Kaveri Jatra, people perform holy dip at Triveni Sangama, confluence of the three rivers — Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyoti — and offer prayers at the Bhagandeshwara temple. Thousands of people reach Talacauvery to take a dip at the pond near Brahmakundike. Talacauvery is located around 8 km from Bhagamandala town.

Vrishabha Sankranti, or Brusha Sankranti, is the day when the Sun enters the Taurus or Vrishabha in a traditional Vedic calendar. In 2026, the date of Vrishabha Sankranti is May 14. The Sankranti time is 10:06 PM on May 14. Vrishabha is the Sanskrit term used to refer ‘bull’, and is another name for Lord Shiva’s carrier Nandi . Vrishabha period starts on the day and continues for 30 days and the next one is Mithuna Sankranti. Vrishabha Sankranti is known as Brusha Sankranti in Odisha and it also marks the beginning of the second month in Odia calendar. The day is also an auspicious days for Vishnu devotees. Special prayers are offered on the day. In some regions special rituals are held. Transit of sun from Mesha or Meda Rashi to Vrishabha Rashi (Aries to Taurus) is known as Vrishabha Sankranti.

Simha Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun’s transition from Karka Rashi to Simha Rashi (Cancer Zodiac to Leo Zodiac)o. There are 12 Sankranthi in a Hindu Solar Calendar and Simha Sankranti is the fifth in one cycle. It is an auspicious day for many communities in Orissa and South India. In 2026, the date of Simha Sankranti is August 17. Time is at 10:37 PM on August 17. ‘San’ means plenty and good and ‘Kranti’ means radical change and Sankranthi means plenty of good change. 

Mesha Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun’s transition from Meena Rashi to Mesha or Meda Rashi (Pisces to Aries). There are 12 Sankranthi in a Hindu Solar Calendar and Mesha Sankranti is the first in one cycle. It is an auspicious day for many communities in Odisha and South India. In 2026, the date of Mesha Sankranti is April 14. Time is at 11:45 AM on April 14. ‘San’ means plenty and good and ‘Kranti’ means radical change and Sankranthi means plenty of good change. Vishu in Kerala is observed during this Sankranti. Mahavishubha Sankranti in Odisha is also observed on the day.

Vrischika Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun’s transition from Tula Rashi to Vrischika Rashi (Libra to Scorpio). Vrischika Sankranti 2025 date is November 17. Time - 1:47 AM on November 17.  There are 12 Sankranthis in a Hindu Solar Calendar. This Sankranti is an auspicious day for many Hindu communities in eastern parts of  India . ‘San’ means plenty and good and ‘Kranti’ means radical change and Sankranthi means plenty of good change Next is the Dhanu Sankranti and with it begins the Dhanumasa. 

Kark Sankranti is the summer solstice of Sun and it marks the beginning of the Dakshinayana Period in traditional Hindu Solar calendars. The term Sankranti in a Solar Calendar generally refers to the means the first day of each month – when the sun passes from one constellation to another. In 2026, the date of Karka Sankranti is July 17. Time is 11:12 AM on July 17. Kark Sankranti is the southern transit of the Sun and it ends with the Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti in mid-January. The nights are longer during Karka Sankranti Period. Kark Sankranti marks the beginning of the night of Devas for some Hindu communities. There is also a popular belief that Lord Vishnu goes to sleep during this period and the Ekadasi just before Karka Sankranti is referred as Dev Sayani Ekadashi . In Tamil Nadu, the month Aadi marks the beginning of Karka Sankranti. It must be noted that Kark Sankranti or Dakshinayana is calculated differently in North Indian Hindu calendars and ot...

Mithun Sankranti, also known as Aashadh Sankranti, marks the beginning of the Sun’s transition from Vrishabha Rashi to Mithuna Rashi (Taurus to Gemini). There are 12 Sankranthi in a Hindu Solar Calendar and Mithuna Sankranti is the last cycle in the Uttarayana period. In 2026, the date of Mithun Sankranti is June 15. Time from 7:55 PM of June 15. ‘San’ means plenty and good and ‘Kranti’ means radical change and Sankranthi means plenty of good change. Raja Sankranti is observed during the period in Odisha. The rainy season starts in some parts of Indian during the Mithuna Sankranti. Dakshinayana starts with the end of Mithun Sankranti in South India.

Meena Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun’s transition from Kumbha Rashi to Meena Rashi (Aquarius to Pisces). There are 12 Sankranthi in a Hindu Solar Calendar and Meena Sankranti is the last in one cycle. It is an auspicious day for many communities in eastern parts of India . In 2026, the date of Meena Sankranti is March 14. Time is at 3:37 AM on March 14. ‘San’ means plenty and good and ‘Kranti’ means radical change and Sankranthi means plenty of good change. Meena Sankranti day is of importance is Odisha.

Dhanu Sankranti is an important day in traditional Hindu calendar and on the day sun enters the Dhanu Rashi (Sagitarius). In 2025, the date of Dhanu Sankranti is December 16. Time is at 1:50 PM on December 16. The day also marks the beginning of Dhanur Mas. Dhanu Sankranti is of great significance in Orissa and special prayers and pujas are offered to Lord Jagannath on the day. The famous Dhanu Yatra – street play based on Krishna visiting Mathura – is held during the period at Bargarh. In many regions in India , on Dhanu Sankranti day Surya (Sun God) is worshipped. Prayers are offered to Surya and people also take dip in holy rivers. Dhanu Sankranti marks the beginning of the transition through the Dhanu Rashi (Sagitarius) and this particular period ends on the Makar Sankranti day. In Odisha, a special sweet made of rice known as Dhanumuan is prepared on the day.

Kataka Sankramana, or Karkataka Sankramana, is the Dakshinayana Punya Kala. A year in Hindu calendar is divided into two halves or Ayanas. In 2026, Kataka Sankramana begins on July 17 and in some places in South India, Shraddha and Tarpana is performed on this day. Sankramana time is at 11:12 AM on July 17. One half is known as Uttarayana (January to July) and the other Dakshinayana (July to January). Uttarayana is considered to be the daytime of Devas (gods) and Dakshinayana is the nighttime. In science, Kataka Sankramana is the progress of Sun (Surya) to the south of the equator. In North India , Karkataka Sankramana is known as Karka Sankranti. Is this period inauspicious? It is not. In Tamil Nadu, the Aadi month begins with Dakshinayana and no auspicious events are held as it is the first month during the nighttime of Devas. But numerous pujas including the Varalakshmi Pooja takes place in this month so there are many people who believe it is not inauspicious. ...