Sankranti Calendar 2028
The Sankranti festival calendar - the solar-transit festivities including Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu, Lohri, Vishu and Vaisakhi, with the tithi for each day.
The Sankranti Calendar lists 12 dates in 2028, from Bhogi / Lohri on 14 January through Dhanurmasam Begins on 16 December. April holds the most with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1949 – 1950.
January 2028
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Bhogi / Lohri
Tithi 2:39 AM, Jan 14 – 11:14 PM, Jan 14
The eve of Makar Sankranti — Maharashtra cooks bhogichi bhaji, while Punjab and the Sindhi community (as Lal Loi) light the Lohri bonfire and offer sesame, jaggery and popcorn to bid winter farewell.
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Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan / Pongal
Tithi 11:16 PM, Jan 14 – 8:07 PM, Jan 15
The Sun begins its northward journey (Uttarayan); a harvest festival of til-gud (sesame and jaggery), with Gujarat's famous kite-flying and Tamil Nadu's Pongal.
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Mattu Pongal
Tithi 8:07 PM, Jan 15 – 5:24 PM, Jan 16
The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming.
April 2028
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Vishu
Tithi 7:06 AM, Apr 13 – 7:13 AM, Apr 14
The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year.
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Pana Sankranti (Maha Vishuba)
Tithi 7:06 AM, Apr 13 – 7:13 AM, Apr 14
The Odia new year (Maha Vishuba Sankranti), with the sweet pana drink, Jhamu Yatra and Danda Nata.
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Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu)
Tithi 7:06 AM, Apr 13 – 7:13 AM, Apr 14
Assam's spring new-year Bihu of Husori song, dance and feasting, as the Sun enters Mesha.
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Vaisakhi
Tithi 7:06 AM, Apr 13 – 7:13 AM, Apr 14
The Punjabi spring harvest new year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth, on Mesha Sankranti.
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Bisket Jatra
Tithi 7:06 AM, Apr 13 – 7:13 AM, Apr 14
Bhaktapur's chariot and pole festival welcoming the Nepali solar new year (Baishakh).
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Jur Sital (Maithili New Year)
Tithi 7:06 AM, Apr 13 – 7:13 AM, Apr 14
The Maithili new year (Mesha Sankranti / Satuani), when elders sprinkle cooling water as blessings.
July 2028
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Karka Sankranti (Dakshinayana Begins)
Tithi 3:20 PM, Jul 15 – 4:25 PM, Jul 16
The Sun enters Karka and begins its southward journey (Dakshinayana) — the night of the gods, opening the holy Chaturmas season of vrats and worship.
October 2028
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Kati Bihu (Kongali Bihu)
Tithi 3:46 PM, Oct 16 – 12:05 PM, Oct 17
The austere Bihu of lamps lit in the paddy fields and before the Tulsi for a good harvest, as the Sun enters Tula.
December 2028
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Dhanurmasam Begins
Tithi 8:47 AM, Dec 15 – 7:36 AM, Dec 16
The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
What the sky brings in 2028
Beyond the dates the Sankranti Calendar lists, 2028 brings 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 3 are above the horizon somewhere in India. Pana Sankranti (Maha Vishuba) falls on 14 April, 1 day later in the year than in 2027 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2028
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 9:43 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 2 days before Bhogi / Lohri | Pausha Purnima | Not visible |
| 26 Jan 8:37 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Magha Amavasya | Not visible |
| 6 Jul 11:49 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Ashadha Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 22 Jul 8:25 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Shravana Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 31 Dec 10:22 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Pausha Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal is observed for 3 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2028
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Feb 7:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Meena → Mesha |
| 28 Feb 7:20 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Simha re-entry while retrograde |
| 24 Jul 3:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
| 26 Dec 1:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Tula |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu enters Dhanu on 24 June 2028, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Sankranti Calendar 2028
How many festivals and vrats does the Sankranti Calendar list in 2028?
The Sankranti Calendar lists 12 dates in 2028. The first is Bhogi / Lohri on Friday, 14 January 2028, and the last is Dhanurmasam Begins on Saturday, 16 December 2028.
What are the main festival dates in the Sankranti Calendar for 2028?
The first major observances of 2028 are:
- Bhogi / Lohri - Friday, 14 January 2028
- Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan / Pongal - Saturday, 15 January 2028
- Mattu Pongal - Sunday, 16 January 2028
- Bisket Jatra - Friday, 14 April 2028
- Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu) - Friday, 14 April 2028
- Jur Sital (Maithili New Year) - Friday, 14 April 2028
Which month of 2028 has the most observances in the Sankranti Calendar?
April 2028 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Bisket Jatra, Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu), Jur Sital (Maithili New Year), Pana Sankranti (Maha Vishuba), Vaisakhi, Vishu.
Which traditional year does 2028 correspond to in the Sankranti Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2028 spans Shaka Samvat 1949 – 1950. The traditional year does not begin on 1 January, so one Gregorian year usually covers the end of one era year and the start of the next.
Will there be an Adhik Maas in 2028?
No. 2028 has twelve lunar months with no Adhik Maas, so its festival dates fall in their usual Gregorian window rather than being pushed later by an intercalary month.
Will there be any eclipses in 2028?
2028 has 5 eclipses:
- 12 January 2028 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 26 January 2028 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 6 July 2028 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
- 22 July 2028 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
- 31 December 2028 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 3 of these will be kept in India.
Will Guru or Shani change sign in 2028?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2028:
- Shani (Saturn) enters Mesha on 23 February 2028
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Simha on 28 February 2028, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Kanya on 24 July 2028
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Tula on 26 December 2028
Jupiter takes about a year to cross one sign and Saturn about two and a half, so these transits colour the whole year rather than a single week.
Are these 2028 dates the same everywhere?
The dates follow the standard Indian sunrise-based calendar. Because a tithi begins and ends at a fixed moment rather than at midnight, an observance can fall a day earlier or later where sunrise differs - most noticeably outside India. Set your city in the box at the top to see the start and end times in your own local time, and check the daily Panchang for the exact window on the day.
About the Sankranti Calendar
The Sankranti festival calendar - the solar-transit festivities including Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu, Lohri, Vishu and Vaisakhi, with the tithi for each day.
Each entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Use the year links to plan ahead into the coming years or to look up a date from the archive.
This list is the festival dates, not the daily five limbs. For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and the day's yoga, open the Panchang. Other calendars are on the Calendars index. The story of a fast is under Vrat Katha.
