Kanya Sankranti 2024 कन्या संक्रान्ति
Monday, 16 September 2024
Sun Ingress Time
20:13 IST
Sun Enters
Kanya (Virgo)
Deity
Surya, Vishwakarma
Maha Punya Kaal
16 Sep 06:37 PM
Punya Kaal Start
16 Sep 01:49 PM
Punya Kaal End
17 Sep 02:37 AM
Regional Names
Vishwakarma Puja day (Bengal, Bihar, Odisha)
Significance
Sun enters Virgo. Vishwakarma Jayanti is celebrated on this Sankranti (in some regions on Bhadrapada Shukla 12 instead). Pitru Paksha begins around this transit.
Rituals
- Vishwakarma worship — engineers, craftsmen, machinists honor their tools
- Tarpan as Pitru Paksha approaches
Punya Kaal — The Auspicious Window
Duration: 16 ghati (~6h 24m) before AND after the exact Sankranti moment, totaling ~12h 48m
- Bathing in sacred rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Kshipra, Narmada, Kaveri) during Punya Kaal multiplies merit 1000-fold
- Donations made during Punya Kaal carry maximum punya — especially til (sesame), gud (jaggery), warm clothes, blankets
- Tarpan to ancestors is highly meritorious
- Avoid travel and major commitments at the exact sankranti moment — wait for it to pass
- Pregnant women avoid stepping outdoors during the actual transit moment
Mantras
Surya Mantra
ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं सः सूर्याय नमः
Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryaya Namah
Meaning: Salutations to Surya
Aditya Hridayam (opening)
ॐ नमो भगवते आदित्याय। ॐ खखोल्काय नमः।
Om Namo Bhagavate Adityaya. Om Khakholkaya Namah.
Meaning: Salutations to Lord Aditya, the brilliant Sun.
Surya Gayatri
ॐ भास्कराय विद्महे महद्द्युतिकराय धीमहि। तन्नो आदित्यः प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Bhaskaraya Vidmahe Mahad-dyutikaraya Dhimahi. Tanno Adityah Prachodayat.
Meaning: We meditate on Bhaskara, the illuminator. May Aditya inspire us.