Makar Sankranti · Sarayu Snan (Ramanandi)

Surya Bhagavan — the family deity (kuladevata) of Sri Ram (Suryavansha)

Ramanandi

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Makar Sankranti — the day Surya Bhagavan enters Makara rashi (Capricorn) and begins Uttarayan. Falls on January 14-15 in the Gregorian calendar (one of the very few Hindu festivals fixed to the solar calendar rather than the lunar one). At Ayodhya, lakhs of Ramanandi sadhus and bhaktas bathe in the Sarayu and offer arghya to Surya — the kuladevata of Sri Ram's Suryavansha.

Dates 2026–2027

January 14, 2026January 14, 2027

Mantra

ॐ सूर्याय नमः · श्री राम सूर्यवंश तिलक

Om Suryaya Namah · Shri Ram Suryavansha Tilak

Salutations to Surya Bhagavan — the kuladevata of the Suryavansha, of which Sri Ram is the brightest tilak.

How to recite

Bathe in the Sarayu at Ayodhya (or any sacred river / home water with Ganga jal added) at sunrise. Offer arghya to Surya Bhagavan facing east with a copper vessel of water, til, jaggery, and red flowers. Recite the Aditya Hridaya Stotra (taught by Agastya to Sri Ram on the battlefield of Lanka). Donate til, jaggery, blankets, and warm clothes to the needy — Sankranti is the foremost daan-day of the year.

Benefits

Makar Sankranti — when Surya enters Makara rashi — is the start of Uttarayan, the auspicious northern progression of the sun. For Ramanandis, this is doubly sacred: Sri Ram is the foremost descendant of the Surya-vansha (Solar Dynasty), so Surya Bhagavan is held as Sri Ram's kuladevata. The Aditya Hridaya Stotra — which Agastya taught Sri Ram on the battlefield — is recited today.

✦ Special Note

Sankranti also marks the start of the Magha Mela at Prayagraj — many Ramanandi sadhus travel from Ayodhya to Prayagraj for the month-long mela that concludes on Magha Purnima. The Aditya Hridaya Stotra (108 verses from the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana) is recited at every Ramanandi mandir today. Dates per the standard Vikram Samvat Panchang (Purnimanta system — month boundary at Purnima), Ayodhya/Varanasi convention; same underlying calendar as Hindu general, Purnimanta month naming.

Foods Allowed

Til-gur ladoo, til-gur barfi, gajak (sesame and jaggery — the day's signature)Khichdi of moong dal and rice with ghee — Makar Sankranti khichdiBajra (pearl millet) roti with white butter and jaggeryBlack sesame til, jaggery, and groundnut sweetsFresh fruits — orange, guava, sugarcane, ber (Indian jujube)Milk, curd, ghee, panchamritCharanamrita and tulsi from the Ram darbar

Foods to Avoid

Onion, garlic, brinjal — alwaysMeat, fish, eggs, alcohol

Meal Idea

Til-gur ladoo and bajra roti with white butter for the morning naivedya; Sankranti khichdi (moong-rice with ghee, sendha namak optional) for the noon Ram-darbar bhog; gajak and orange-segments in the evening after the Surya-arghya.

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