Makara Sankranti
ಮಕರ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
ಸೂರ್ಯನು ಮಕರ ರಾಶಿಗೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸುವ ಪುಣ್ಯದಿನ — ಉತ್ತರಾಯಣದ ಆರಂಭ. ಎಳ್ಳು-ಬೆಲ್ಲ ಹಂಚಿ 'ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತನಾಡು' ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸುವ ಸುಗ್ಗಿಯ ಹಬ್ಬ.
The day the Sun enters Makara rashi, beginning the auspicious Uttarayana. Karnataka's harvest festival of sharing ellu-bella (sesame and jaggery) with the wish 'speak sweetly like this sweet'.
Auspicious muhurta · ಶುಭ ಮುಹೂರ್ತ
Punya kala is the hours around sunrise — perform Surya arghya and daana soon after your morning bath.
How to prepare · ಪೂರ್ವ ಸಿದ್ಧತೆ
Get everything ready before the day — samagri to buy, home preparation and what to arrange in advance.
- 1Buy ellu-bella ingredients: white sesame, jaggery, dry coconut, fried gram and sugar-candy (sakkare achchu) moulds
- 2Arrange sugarcane, ber fruit and a new pot for pongal naivedya
- 3Keep sesame oil ready for the early morning bath before Surya arghya
- 4Clean the pooja room and keep Surya / Lakshmi idols and a kalasha ready
- 5Plan daana in advance — rice, clothes, sesame and jaggery to give as charity
Pooja vidhi · ಪೂಜಾ ವಿಧಿ
- Sunrise bath and Surya arghya (offering water to the Sun)
- Ellu-bella exchange with neighbours and family
- Pongal/sweet rice naivedya
- Godaana or annadaana (charity) is especially meritorious today
Stotras for this festival · ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಗಳು
Frequently asked · ಪ್ರಶ್ನೋತ್ತರ
When is Makara Sankranti in 2026?
Makara Sankranti falls on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 — the day the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn), beginning Uttarayana.
What is ellu-bella?
A Karnataka Sankranti tradition — a mix of sesame seeds, jaggery, dry coconut, fried gram and peanuts shared with the words 'ellu bella tindu olle maathadu' (eat this and speak sweetly).
Which pooja is done on Sankranti?
Surya aradhana at sunrise, followed by naivedya of pongal. Many families also perform a simple Lakshmi pooja and charity (daana) of food and clothes.
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