Why Makar Sankranti Should Be Celebrated on 15 January
1. Introduction
Makar Sankranti is one of the few Indian festivals based purely on solar astronomy rather than lunar calculations. It marks the moment when the Sun enters the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara), initiating the Sun’s northward journey (Uttarayana). Traditionally celebrated on 14 January, a closer and more accurate astronomical analysis indicates that 15 January is the correct date for its observance in the present era.
2. Astronomical Basis of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti corresponds to a solar ingress:
- It occurs when the Sun’s sidereal longitude becomes exactly 270°, i.e., the beginning of Makara Rashi (Capricorn).
- This event is independent of the Moon and is determined by the Earth–Sun orbital dynamics.
The key factor influencing the date is precession of the equinoxes (Ayanāṁśa).
3. Precession of the Equinoxes: The Core Reason
Due to Earth’s slow axial wobble:
- The vernal equinox shifts westward at a rate of about 50.3 arcseconds per year.
- Over centuries, this has caused a drift of nearly one full day in the Sun’s apparent position relative to the zodiac.
As a result:
- In ancient times, the Sun entered Makara around 12–13 January.
- In the modern astronomical epoch, the Sun now enters Makara late on 14 January or early on 15 January (IST).
4. Present-Day Astronomical Observation
Based on contemporary ephemeris calculations:
- The sidereal Sun enters Capricorn after midnight on 14 January in most years.
- Since Indian calendrical tradition considers sunrise as the marker for religious observance, the first full day with the Sun in Makara is 15 January.
Thus, 15 January becomes the astronomically correct date for Makar Sankranti.
5. Distinction Between Uttarayana and Makara Sankranti
A common misconception is that:
- Uttarayana = Makar Sankranti
Astronomically:
- Uttarayana (northward solar movement) actually begins at the winter solstice (around 21–22 December).
- Makar Sankranti is a zodiacal transition, not a solstitial event.
Celebrating Makar Sankranti on 15 January aligns the festival with its true astronomical definition, rather than symbolic association.
6. Scientific Consistency and Calendar Reform
Celebrating Makar Sankranti on 15 January offers:
- Alignment with modern astronomical calculations
- Consistency with sidereal solar longitude
- Preservation of the festival’s scientific heritage
- Correction of accumulated calendrical drift
Just as calendars worldwide have undergone reform (e.g., Julian to Gregorian), Indian solar observances also require periodic astronomical correction.
7. Conclusion
From an astronomer’s standpoint:
Makar Sankranti should be celebrated on 15 January, as this is the day when the Sun is verifiably in Makara Rashi at sunrise, according to present-day sidereal astronomy.
Honoring this date restores the festival’s astronomical precision, reinforces India’s legacy of scientific timekeeping, and bridges tradition with observational science.
“True tradition survives not by resisting science, but by evolving with it.”
By Riitesh Singha
