Dhanu Sankranti 2026 धनु संक्रांति

Why Dhanu Sankranti is celebrated

A Sankranti is the day the sun moves from one zodiac sign to the next. On Dhanu Sankranti it enters Dhanu, or Sagittarius. Jupiter rules this sign. In North India, the month that follows is called Kharmas or Malmas. According to tradition, the sun's strength is weak in this period, so families avoid weddings, griha pravesh, mundan and other auspicious beginnings until Makar Sankranti in mid January. The month is instead used for prayer, charity and holy baths.

History and story of Dhanu Sankranti

The custom of marking each Sankranti comes from the solar calendar used alongside the lunar Hindu calendar. Dhanu Sankranti begins the last solar month before the sun turns north at Makar Sankranti. In South India, this month became known as Dhanurmasa, a time devoted to Vishnu. The Tamil poet saint Andal composed the Thiruppavai, a set of 30 hymns, for the month of Margazhi, and these are still sung each morning.

How Dhanu Sankranti is celebrated

On the day of Sankranti, devotees bathe in a river or at home before sunrise and offer water to the sun. They give food, warm clothes, blankets and sesame to the poor. Many worship Vishnu and Surya and read holy texts. During Dhanurmasa, temples open very early for special worship, and offerings such as pongal are made at dawn.

Dhanu Sankranti across India

In Tamil Nadu, women draw large kolam designs at the door each Margazhi morning, and groups sing Thiruppavai and bhajans in the streets. Music and dance seasons in Chennai also run in this month.

In Odisha, Dhanu Sankranti is marked with special worship, and the Dhanu Yatra of Bargarh is held around this season. It is a large open air theatre festival in which the whole town turns into the stage for the story of Krishna and King Kansa.

In North India, people treat Kharmas as a quiet month and plan weddings for after Makar Sankranti.