Mesha Sankranti, also known as Maha Vishuva Sankranti, is a significant Hindu festival marking the transition of the Sun into Mesha Rashi (Aries zodiac sign). This celestial event symbolises the beginning of a new year in various Hindu Solar Calendars across India.
In 2025, Mesha Sankranti will be observed on Monday, April 14. The exact Sankranti moment is at 3:30 AM, which determines the auspicious timings for religious activities and the start of the New Year in several regional calendars.
| Event | Date and Time |
| Mesha Sankranti | Monday, April 14, 2025 |
| Mesha Sankranti Punya Kala | 05:58 AM to 12:22 PM |
| Duration | 06 Hours 25 Mins |
| Mesha Sankranti Maha Punya Kala | 05:58 AM to 08:06 AM |
| Duration | 02 Hours 08 Mins |
Mesha Sankranti is celebrated differently across India, with regional names and customs, but all rooted in the Sun’s transit into Aries. Here's how various Indian states observe it:
- Odisha (Orissa): The festival is known as Pana Sankranti. If the Sankranti moment occurs before Hindu midnight, the same day is celebrated as the New Year.
- Tamil Nadu: Known as Puthandu, the New Year begins if the Sankranti occurs between sunrise and sunset. If it happens after sunset, the celebrations shift to the next day.
- Kerala: The Malayalam calendar observes the day as Vishu. The day is split into five parts, and if Sankranti occurs during the first three (up to Madhyahna), the same day marks the New Year.
- West Bengal: In Bengal, Pohela Boishakh or Naba Barsha is celebrated. If Sankranti occurs between sunrise and midnight, the New Year is observed the next day. If after midnight, then on the second day.
- Assam: The festival is observed as Bihu, celebrating the onset of the agricultural season.
- Punjab: The occasion is marked as Vaisakhi, a harvest festival and New Year for the Sikh community.
While the regional variations mark civil observance, the rituals and religious practices depend on the precise timing of the Sankranti.
- Punya Kaal: The 10 Ghatis before and after the Sankranti moment are considered Shubh (auspicious) for performing Dan-Punya (charity and merit-earning) activities.
- If the Sankranti occurs after sunset but before midnight, rituals are performed in the later half of that day.
- If it occurs after midnight, the first half of the next day is considered suitable for observances.
In South India, Mesha Sankranti is known as Sankramanam, and the same time-based rules are followed for rituals.
Mesha Sankranti Phalam (Astrological Predictions)
Each Sankranti also brings specific planetary effects for the period ahead. The Mesha Sankranti Phalam for 2025 predicts:
- Favourable time for thieves and hidden activities.
- Rise in commodity prices, especially essentials.
- Increase in suffering due to health issues like cough and cold.
- Potential conflicts among nations and risk of famine due to poor rainfall.
- Sankranti Karana: Kaulava
- Day: Monday
- Date: April 14, 2025
- Time: 03:30 AM (Sankranti moment)
- Moonsign: Tula (Libra)
- Nakshatra: Swati (Chara Sangyaka – mobile and dynamic nature)
Mesha Sankranti is more than just a New Year celebration; it is a spiritual and astrological event rooted in tradition and celestial movements. From charity rituals during the Punya Kaal to regional New Year festivities, the day brings renewal, reflection, and prosperity. With deep cultural relevance and varied observances, Mesha Sankranti 2025 is a time to embrace new beginnings with devotion and purpose.
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