Sankranti
When is Makara Sankranti 2019 – 14 January or 15 January? When is Makara Sankranti Puja in 2019, on 14 January or 15 January? In 2019, Sankranti festival date landed in confusion that some of the panchanga karthas stating the date of Sankranti as 15 January and the TTD Panchangam and other Panchangams followed in Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple and Srisailam Bramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple have been mentioning the festival date as 15 January.
According to Driksiddhanta Panchangam (which is claimed to be the standard National Almanac) the Makara Sankramana Punyakalam is at 6.43 AM on 15 January and hence Sankranti to be celebrated on 15th January, Tuesday.
It falls on Shukla Paksha Ashtami in Paush Month (Pushya Masam). Makara Sankramana takes place at Ashwini Nakshatra, Siddha Yoga and Bava Karana.
But as per the Purva Paddathi Panchangams like TTD Panchangam, Makara Sankranti Punyakalam is at 1.11 AM on 15 January and it falls after the Sunset of the day (14 January). Hence it is celebrated as Makara Sankranti and 15th January as Bhogi Ther at TTD Temple. As the Makara Sankramana takes place after the Sunset, Sankranti to be celebrated on 15th January.
TTD Panchangam has also quoted some of the verses from ‘Smriti Nirnaya’..
1. “Athra Suryastamaya Kalanantaram Praveshatpara dine makara samkramana prayukta punyam bhavati” ||
2. Yathastamaya velayam makaram yaati bhaskarah
pradoshevartha rathrouva snanam daanam pare haani ||
3. Jhusha pradoshe yadivartha rathrau
pare hni punyam thwadhakarka paschath ||
Conclusion : Hindupad believes and follows Drik Siddhantha Panchangam. And hence celebrates Makara Sankranti rituals on 15 January in 2019, Bhogi on 14 January and Kanuma on 16 January.