Masik Sankranti July 2026 Date
Thursday, 16 July 2026Masik Sankranti
Masik Sankranti is the exact moment the Sun crosses from one sidereal rashi into the next — a solar pivot that happens twelve times a year. Unlike tithi-based festivals tied to the moon, it anchors the Hindu solar month. Tradition reserves the day for charity and a holy dip, not new ceremonies.
Masik Sankranti in July 2026 is on Thursday, 16 July 2026.
Dates are for India (IST). Muhurat and the panchanga for each day are on the Masik Sankranti page.
About Masik Sankranti
The twelve Sankrantis are not all equal. Classical texts sort them into four groups — Ayan, Vishuva, Vishnupadi and Shadshitimukhi — each with its own punya kaal (window of merit) rules. Makara and Karka are the two Ayan Sankrantis, marking the sun's turn north (Uttarayana) and south (Dakshinayana). For Meena, Mithuna, Kanya and Dhanu — the Shadshitimukhi four — only the 16 ghatis (about 6.4 hours) after the Sankranti moment count as auspicious for dana. For most others the window extends to 40 ghatis. A key rule: if the Sankranti moment falls after sunset, all bathing, charity and homa are pushed to the next sunrise, since these rites are forbidden at night. Because the Hindu calendar is sidereal, these Sankranti dates slowly drift away from the actual solstices and equinoxes over centuries.
Masik Sankranti Dates in July 2026
- 16 Jul 2026Thursday
