Sankramana is the instant the Sun enters the next Nirayana Rashi. That astronomical ingress is one moment worldwide, but the local civil date, clock time and applicable Punyakala can differ because of timezone, sunrise, sunset and the traditional rule assigned to that Sankranti.
Before using the calendar
- Select the correct location: the ingress instant is universal, but the displayed local time and usable ritual window can differ.
- Use the Punyakala shown for that Sankranti: not every Sankranti follows one fixed number of minutes before or after ingress.
- Follow your established tradition: another regional Panchanga may use a different Ayanamsha or decision rule.
Select year and location
Sankramana Punyakala Timings 2026
Columbus
January, 2026
♑
Makara Sankranti (Uttarayana begins)
14 January 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 14/01/2026 04:37 AM
Makara Sankramana prayukta Uttarayana Punyakala
from Morning 07:57 to Evening 05:25
23.68 Ghatis (09:28 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Morning 07:57 to Morning 09:57
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Wood and fire-related items
Wood and fire-related items
February, 2026
♒
Kumbha Sankranti
12 February 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 12/02/2026 05:39 PM
Kumbha Sankramana prayukta Haripada Punyakala
from Morning 11:15 to Evening 05:39
16.00 Ghatis (06:24 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Afternoon 03:39 to Evening 05:39
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Cow, water and oil
Cow, water and oil
March, 2026
♓
Meena Sankranti
14 March 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 14/03/2026 03:33 PM
Meena Sankramana prayukta Shadasheeti Punyakala
from Afternoon 03:33 to Evening 07:33
10.02 Ghatis (04:00 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Afternoon 03:33 to Evening 05:33
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Land and garlands
Land and garlands
April, 2026
♈
Mesha Sankranti
13 April 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 14/04/2026 12:02 AM
Mesha Sankramana prayukta Vishuvat Punyakala
from Afternoon 12:04 to Night 08:04
20.00 Ghatis (08:00 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Evening 06:04 to Night 08:04
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Goat
Goat
May, 2026
♉
Vrishabha Sankranti
14 May 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 14/05/2026 08:52 PM
Vrishabha Sankramana prayukta Vishnupada Punyakala
from Afternoon 02:10 to Night 08:34
16.00 Ghatis (06:24 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Evening 06:34 to Night 08:34
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Cow
Cow
June, 2026
♊
Mithuna Sankranti
15 June 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 15/06/2026 03:23 AM
Mithuna Sankramana prayukta Shadasheeti Punyakala
from Morning 06:07 to Afternoon 12:31
16.00 Ghatis (06:24 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Morning 06:07 to Morning 08:07
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Clothes, food and similar items
Clothes, food and similar items
July, 2026
♋
Karkataka Sankranti (Dakshinayana begins)
16 July 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 16/07/2026 02:09 PM
Karkataka Sankramana prayukta Dakshinayana Punyakala
from Morning 06:21 to Afternoon 02:09
19.49 Ghatis (07:47 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Afternoon 12:09 to Afternoon 02:09
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Milch-cow
Milch-cow
August, 2026
♌
Simha Sankranti
16 August 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 16/08/2026 10:28 PM
Simha Sankramana prayukta Vishnupada Punyakala
from Afternoon 01:58 to Night 08:22
16.00 Ghatis (06:24 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Evening 06:22 to Night 08:22
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Umbrella and gold
Umbrella and gold
September, 2026
♍
Kanya Sankranti
16 September 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 16/09/2026 10:22 PM
Kanya Sankramana prayukta Shadasheeti Punyakala
from Afternoon 01:10 to Evening 07:34
16.00 Ghatis (06:24 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Evening 05:34 to Evening 07:34
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
House, land and clothes
House, land and clothes
October, 2026
♎
Tula Sankranti
17 October 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 17/10/2026 10:21 AM
Tula Sankramana prayukta Vishuvat Punyakala
from Morning 07:49 to Afternoon 02:21
16.36 Ghatis (06:32 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Morning 09:21 to Morning 11:21
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Sesame seeds, cow’s ghee, gold, etc.
Sesame seeds, cow’s ghee, gold, etc.
November, 2026
♏
Vrishchika Sankranti
16 November 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 16/11/2026 09:13 AM
Vrischika Sankramana prayukta Haripada Punyakala
from Morning 07:23 to Morning 09:13
4.59 Ghatis (01:50 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Morning 07:23 to Morning 09:13
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Lamps
Lamps
December, 2026
♐
Dhanu Sankranti
15 December 2026
Sankramana Date, Time: 15/12/2026 11:55 PM
Dhanu Sankramana prayukta Shadasheeti Punyakala
from Morning 10:38 to Evening 05:02
16.00 Ghatis (06:24 hrs)
Maha Punyakala
from Afternoon 03:02 to Evening 05:02
Best for Daan/Japa
Recommended Donation
Clothes and vehicles
Clothes and vehicles
Terms used in the Sankranti calendar
- Sankramana
- The calculated instant when the Sun enters the next sidereal Rashi.
- Punyakala
- A traditional ritual window connected with Sankramana. Its limits can depend on the Sankranti type, local sunrise or sunset, and whether ingress occurs during the day or night.
- Maha Punyakala
- A shorter, specially observed portion within the applicable Punyakala where the rule used by this calendar defines one.
- Nirayana and Ayanamsha
- Nirayana calculation uses a sidereal zodiac. Ayanamsha is the angular offset used between tropical and sidereal longitudes.
Common questions
Why does the Sankranti clock time differ by country?
The astronomical ingress occurs at one instant, but each timezone displays it as a different local date and clock time.
Why can Punyakala differ between two Panchangas?
They may use different Ayanamsha settings, sunrise conventions or traditional limits for that Sankranti.
Is Maha Punyakala always the time closest to ingress?
Not as a universal rule. Use the specific window calculated for that Sankranti and tradition.
Why does Makara Sankranti occur around similar Gregorian dates?
It is tied to the sidereal solar ingress into Makara. Long-term precession and calendar structure can gradually affect its Gregorian placement, but this is not best treated as a simple fixed one-day rule.
About the calculation
This page uses the Sankramana and Punyakala rules implemented in the calculation engine. Regional Panchangas may differ, especially when ingress occurs near sunrise, sunset or during the night.