Makara Sankranti 2025 is celebrated as a festival in northern hemisphere and astrologically, it occurs when Sun enters zodiac sign Capricorn according to Vedic Astrology.
Sun begins its movement away from the tropic of Capricorn and towards the northern hemisphere. That is why next 6 months are called as ‘Uttarayan (uttar(north)+ayan(movement) of sun)’.
During winter in Northen Hemisphere, Sun rises slightly towards North-East and ses towards North-West respectively between mid-january to mid-july in every year.
This period is called Uttarayana in vedic terms and it means uttar(north)+ayana(movement) of sun.
The remaining 6 months (July-January) are termed as dakshinayana which means south movement of sun.
Originally, this was celebrated as Winter Solstice in ancient India but later due to the fact that the solstices are continually precessing at a rate of 50″ / year due to the precession of the equinoxes, winter solstice now occurs at 21st december each year.
This year’s Makar (Capricorn), Sankranti (Sankraman = transmigration) occurs on 14th January 2025 at 06:31 hours IST (according to K.P Ayanamsa).
As Sun transits into Capricorn during midnight, just before sunrise, 14th January 2025 is celebrated as Makara Sankranti.
11 hours from Sunrise on 14th January 2025 is called as Sankranti Punya Kaal Muhurta and Mahapunya Kaal Muhurta is only the initial 90 minutes from sunrise time.
This is the best time to take bath, offer water to Sun, sit alone and meditate on what has been bothering your mind and body since past 6 months.
This is also the best time to spend in a temple or at a peaceful place and recite Gayatri Mantra in silence.
Surya Siddhantha bridges this difference by juxtaposing the four solstitial and equinotial points with four of the twelve boundaries of the signs.
In Vedas, Uttarayan is termed as day of gods (devas in heaven) and Dakshinayan is their night. This is very much similar to the 6 months day at north pole after winter solstice and 6 months night from summer solstice.
Uttarayana as the period between the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes (when there is Midnight Sun at the North Pole). Conversely, Dakshinaya is defined as the period between the Autumnal and Vernal Equinoxes, when there is midnight sun at the South Pole. This period is also referred to as Pitrayana (with the Pitrus (i.e. ancestors) being placed at the South Pole).
Usually when Uttarayana starts, it is a start of winter. When equinox slides it will increase ayanamsha and Makar Sankranti will also slide. In 1000 CE Makar Sankranti was on Dec 31st and now it falls on January 14th; after 9000 years Makara Sankranti will be in June.
It would seem absurd to have Uttarayana in June when sun is about to begin its ascent upwards i.e Dakshinayana. This misconception continues as there is not much difference between actual Uttarayana date of Dec 21 and January 14. However, the difference will be significant as equinoxes slide further in next few millenia.
Uttarayana is the day when the day is shortest on the earth. According to srimad bhagavatam 5.21.7 “Duration of Days start to increase from Uttarayana commencement“. Even as per srimad bhagwatam that day is december 22nd (~3800 years ago when Bhagavatam was composed).
In vedic religion, God does not have any shape and for us, time is manifestation of God.
Makara Sankranti 2025 Phalam
Sankranti Purusha Name = Mahodara
Sankranti Karna = Balava
Sankranti Weekday = Tuesday (Tuesday after sunrise)
Sankranti tithi = Krishna Pratipat
Sankranti Date = 14 January 2025 (because transit happened on 14th January before sunrise)
Sankranti Moment = 06:31 IST (according to K.P Ayanamsa)
Sankranti Ghati = 60 (Ratrimana)
Sankranti Moonsign = Karkataka
Sankranti Nakshatra = Punarvasu (Castor and Pollux)
Vishnu or Narayana is worshipped through Sun God and this Sun’s equinoxes are celebrated as festivals.
Sankranti Purusha enters as Mahodara (harmful to traditional businessmen), on Vyaghra vahana (Tiger).
This is bad omen for Rulers, traders, wild animals, rare species.
He is bathing with bael leaves water (good), wearing red color clothes (extreme danger or uncomfrtable situations), wearing Blue Saphire (bad for gemstone business), holding silver bowl (silver prices fluctuate), eating Payasa or kheer (sweet rice) (bad for religious people) and Banana Fruit (good for agriculture), seated on tiger (bad for wild animals and endangered species), Red umbrella and Spear weapon (fear of war), Jati/Chameli/jasmine flower indicates addictions among youth, travels South and facing North-West (bad effects like natural calamities and civil unrest for Southern states in India, Sri Lanka, Asia Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Middle-East, Russia, Ukraine) – last year it was bad for North-East Indian states, Chin, Korea and Japan, angry facing (financial problems to people).
This year (2025) will see increase in prices of essential commodities, more dairy production, extinction of animal species, floods, recession.
This is bad time for dictators and royal families.
Bad for those who run family business, trading and gold, gemstones business.
In general, Makar Sankranti 2025 with Sun in Capricorn with Saturn and Venus in Aquarius brings good luck, wealth and health for people born in Moon Signs and Ascendants of Capricorn, Pisces, Leo , Gemini, Aries and Scorpio.
It will be an average month for those born in Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius.
This will be bad for other signs.