Changing date of Makar SankrantiImage Credit source: PTI
Makar Sankranti Date Change: Makar Sankranti is one of the major festivals of India, which is considered not only a religious festival but also a festival indicating the change of seasons. It heralds the end of winter and arrival of spring. This is why it is celebrated with different names and traditions in different parts of the country. It is believed that on the day of Makar Sankranti, bathing in an ordinary river is as virtuous as bathing in the Ganga, hence charity and bathing have special significance on this day.
But for the past few years, a question has been continuously arising in the minds of people, why is Makar Sankranti celebrated sometimes on 14th January and sometimes on 15th January? Will its date change further in the future? Astrological calculations give interesting answers to these questions.
Makar Sankranti is determined by the movement of the Sun
According to astrological assessment, when the Sun leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn, Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the same day. This astronomical event is based on the actual movement of the Sun, not on the lunar calendar. For this reason, this festival does not fall on the same date every year like other festivals. According to astrologers, the Sun delays its zodiac change by about 20 minutes every year. This delay may sound minor, but if seen over the years, its impact on the dates is clearly visible.
The date moves forward one day in 72 years
Astrologers say that every three years this delay occurs by about one hour. Similarly, in 72 years this difference becomes full of 24 hours i.e. one day. Since the movement of the Sun and Moon does not go backward, the date moves forward in the calendar.
Due to this calculation, Makar Sankranti is being celebrated sometimes on 12th January, sometimes on 13th, then on 14th and now on 15th January. It is believed that if this trend continues, then after about 5000 years Makar Sankranti will be celebrated at the end of February.
When did the date of Makar Sankranti change?
According to astrologers and scholars, about 1000 years ago Makar Sankranti was celebrated on 1 January.
In the 18th century, this festival fell on 12 and 13 January.
Makar Sankranti was celebrated for the first time on 14 January in 1902.
For the first time in 1964, Makar Sankranti fell on 15 January.
After this, due to Adhikamaas and the movement of the Sun, such a sequence was formed that for some years this festival started being celebrated on 14th January and then on 15th January.
Makar Sankranti will fall on 14th January for the last time in 2077
According to astrological calculations, 2077 will be the last year when Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on January 14. After this this festival will be permanently shifted to 15th January. It is being told that till 2080 Makar Sankranti will be celebrated only on 15th January. After this, in future the zodiac sign of Sun will change more late and Makar Sankranti will reach on 16th January.
Sun will change its zodiac sign on January 15 this year
This year, the king of planets, Sun, will enter Capricorn from Sagittarius at 9.13 am on January 15. With this, Kharmas will end and auspicious works will begin. This time Makar Sankranti will be celebrated in Vyatipat Yoga, Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha and Shravan Nakshatra. According to the scriptures, Uttarayan is called the day of the gods and Dakshinayan is called the night of the gods.
Will the date keep changing in future also?
Astrologers say that as long as this astronomical movement of the Sun continues, the date of Makar Sankranti will also keep moving forward gradually. This is the reason why this festival does not follow the calendar, but follows celestial calculations.
Also read: Why will Makar Sankranti be celebrated on January 15? These are two big bags including Ekadashi
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.