Know the exact date, auspicious time and significance of Pongal, Lohri, Makar Sankranti festivals in 2026!

Now only a few days are left for India’s most awaited harvest festivals Pongal, Lohri and Makar Sankranti. There is increasing curiosity among people to know their exact date.

This year, the festival of Pongal will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, according to the Tamil solar calendar. The grand beginning of the 4-day festival will begin with Bogi Pandigai, after which the most auspicious day, Thai Pongal, will be celebrated. On the day of Bogi Pandigai, people clean their houses and light bonfires.

When is Lohri in Punjab?

The first day of Pongal festival in Punjab will be celebrated as Lohri, which is on Tuesday, January 13. The festival of Lohri in Punjab symbolizes the harvesting of Rabi crops.

Also known as Lohri or Lal Loi, during the celebration of Lohri, people enjoy traditional dishes like corn, peanuts, gajak and sweets made of sesame and jaggery. Apart from this, people express their happiness by performing Giddha and Bhangra.

Pongal 4 day festival in Tamil calendar

According to the Tamil calendar, Thai Pongal is the first day of the tenth solar month Thai. The second day of this 4-day festival is celebrated as Sankranti and in North India it is known as Makar Sankranti. On this day, people worship Sun God after taking bath.

According to the folklore prevalent in South India, Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Mountain on the very next day of Makar Sankranti. According to the Hindu calendar, when the Sun leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn, the festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated.

Pongal, Makar Sankranti auspicious time

According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious time of Thai Pongal and Makar Sankranti is on Wednesday at 3.13 pm.

The third day of Pongal festival is called Mattu Pongal. On this day, pet animals and cattle are decorated after bathing them. The last day of Pongal is Kaanum Pongal.

Different names of harvest festivals in India

In India, harvest festivals are known by different names, but the basic idea of ​​all these festivals is the same. All these festivals are considered to mark the end of short days of winter and the beginning of long days, because during this time the Sun enters Capricorn.

Harvest festivals are celebrated with different names and traditions in India, with all the festivals having their own traditions, customs and cultural significance.

Makar Sankranti as Uttarayan in Gujarat

The harvest festival in Gujarat is known as Uttarayan. In Assam it is known as Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, which marks the end of the harvest season.

Whereas in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Khichdi is prepared on the day of Makar Sankranti, in which people prepare a dish made of rice and pulses and donate it. In West Bengal, on the day of Paush Sankranti, sweets made from rice flour are prepared.