Sankranti Calendar 2031
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 2031, 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 1952 – 1953. 2031 carries an Adhik Maas (Bhadrapada (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several dates later than usual.
January 2031
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Bhogi / Lohri
Tithi 7:04 AM, Jan 14 – 7:25 AM, Jan 15
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 7:10 AM, Jan 15 – 6:59 AM, Jan 16
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 6:43 AM, Jan 16 – 5:58 AM, Jan 17
The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming.
April 2031
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Vishu
Tithi 9:42 AM, Apr 13 – 7:31 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 9:42 AM, Apr 13 – 7:31 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 9:42 AM, Apr 13 – 7:31 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 9:42 AM, Apr 13 – 7:31 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 9:42 AM, Apr 13 – 7:31 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 9:42 AM, Apr 13 – 7:31 AM, Apr 14
The Maithili new year (Mesha Sankranti / Satuani), when elders sprinkle cooling water as blessings.
July 2031
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Karka Sankranti (Dakshinayana Begins)
Tithi 11:43 AM, Jul 16 – 2:12 PM, Jul 17
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 2031
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Kati Bihu (Kongali Bihu)
Tithi 1:05 PM, Oct 17 – 11:45 AM, Oct 18
The austere Bihu of lamps lit in the paddy fields and before the Tulsi for a good harvest, as the Sun enters Tula.
December 2031
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Dhanurmasam Begins
Tithi 11:20 AM, Dec 15 – 7:54 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 2031
Beyond the dates the Sankranti Calendar lists, 2031 brings 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 2 are above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carries an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Bhadrapada, running from 19 August 2031 to 16 September 2031. Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan / Pongal falls on 15 January, 1 day later in the year than in 2030 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2031
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 9:20 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Vaishakha Purnima | Not visible |
| 21 May 12:44 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Jyeshtha Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 5 Jun 5:14 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Jyeshtha Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 30 Oct 1:15 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Kartika Purnima | Not visible |
| 15 Nov 2:36 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Kartika Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal is observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2031
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb 3:10 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
| 14 Jun 3:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Vrishchika re-entry while retrograde |
| 15 Oct 4:20 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu enters Tula on 31 July 2031, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Sankranti Calendar 2031
How many festivals and vrats does the Sankranti Calendar list in 2031?
The Sankranti Calendar lists 12 dates in 2031. The first is Bhogi / Lohri on Tuesday, 14 January 2031, and the last is Dhanurmasam Begins on Tuesday, 16 December 2031.
What are the main festival dates in the Sankranti Calendar for 2031?
The first major observances of 2031 are:
- Bhogi / Lohri - Tuesday, 14 January 2031
- Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan / Pongal - Wednesday, 15 January 2031
- Mattu Pongal - Thursday, 16 January 2031
- Bisket Jatra - Monday, 14 April 2031
- Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu) - Monday, 14 April 2031
- Jur Sital (Maithili New Year) - Monday, 14 April 2031
Which month of 2031 has the most observances in the Sankranti Calendar?
April 2031 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 2031 correspond to in the Sankranti Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2031 spans Shaka Samvat 1952 – 1953. 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 2031?
Yes. 2031 carries an Adhik Maas (Bhadrapada (Adhik)), the extra lunar month inserted roughly every third year to keep the lunar calendar in step with the solar one. Festivals falling after it shift later in the Gregorian year, which is why 2031 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Will there be any eclipses in 2031?
2031 has 5 eclipses:
- 7 May 2031 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 21 May 2031 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
- 5 June 2031 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak will be observed
- 30 October 2031 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 15 November 2031 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 1 of these will be kept in India.
Will Guru or Shani change sign in 2031?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2031:
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Dhanu on 17 February 2031
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Vrishchika on 14 June 2031, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Dhanu on 15 October 2031
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 2031 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.
