Makar Sankranti 2027 Is on 15 January, Not the 14th
Most printed calendars say 14 January. For 2027 they are wrong: the sun enters Makara after sunset on the 14th, so the festival and its punya kaal move to the next sunrise.
The date
Friday, 15 January 2027
Why not the 14th
Sun enters Makara at 9:14 PM
Best buying window
7:15 to 9:06 AM
Why the Date Moves
Sankranti follows the sun, not the moon, which is why it sits on 14 January most years. But the exact Makara moment arrives about six hours later each year, and in 2027 it lands at 9:14 PM, after sunset. Panchang rules do not allow punya kaal at night, so the snan, the til-gud, and the gold buying all shift to sunrise on the 15th.
The night the sun changes sign
The transition lands after sunset on the 14th, so the merit window waits for the next sunrise.
Mumbai Timings
| Detail | Timing (IST) |
|---|---|
| Sun enters Makara | 9:14 PM, Thursday 14 January |
| Punya Kaal | 7:15 AM to 6:21 PM, Friday 15 January |
| Maha Punya Kaal (most auspicious) | 7:15 AM to 9:06 AM, Friday 15 January |
These follow Drik Panchang's Mumbai calendar, not the Delhi timings most sites republish, and are occasionally revised closer to the date. Message us for the confirmed window, or see every buying date in our festival calendar.
Why Sankranti Is a Gold-Buying Day
Sankranti opens Uttarayan, the auspicious half of the year, and buying gold or silver during punya kaal is the traditional way to mark it. In Maharashtra the season runs through haldi-kunku: married women give vaan until Rathasaptami, and a small silver item is the classic one. Til-gud is finished by February. The silver stays in the family.
Digital Gold or the Kind You Can Hold?
Say you are spending ₹10,000 on Sankranti morning. You can tap buy in an app, or walk into a shop. Here is what actually happens on each path.
In the app
Digital gold, bought in a minute
- 1Tap buy: the app's buy price plus 3% GST.
- 2Grams appear in your account. The metal sits in a trustee's vault; you never see it.
- 3Delivery later means minting and courier charges, where offered at all.
- 4Selling is back to the same app, at its sell price, typically 2 to 5% below the buy price.
At the jeweller
A coin or bar, in your hand
- 1Pay the day's rate plus the same 3% GST.
- 2The coin goes home with you, purity stamped and tested in front of you.
- 3Wear it, gift it as vaan, or lock it away. Nothing recurring.
- 4Sell, exchange, or pledge it at any jeweller in the country.
What SEBI Actually Said
On 8 November 2025, SEBI cautioned that digital gold is neither a security nor a regulated commodity derivative, so none of its investor protections apply. It stays legal to buy. But if a platform fails, the loss is yours to chase, and no regulator is assigned to help you chase it.
To be fair, the apps genuinely win on small amounts (you can start at ₹10), odd hours, and skipping the locker. But for Sankranti, vaan, or dana, you want the metal in hand. You cannot place a ledger entry in someone's palm during haldi-kunku.
Planning a Sankranti purchase?
Coins, bars, and silver for vaan, tested on our machine in front of you.
Ask today's coin rateBuying Physical? Check Three Things
- 1The purity marking on the piece. Our KDM vs BIS guide decodes it.
- 2The weight, on the scale in front of you. The gold calculator converts today's rate before you step out.
- 3A bill that states purity and weight. At our shop the piece also goes on the gold testing machine before you pay.
Years later, the same coin can be sold or exchanged against new jewellery, or pledged for a gold loan, without leaving the neighbourhood.
Visit Us Before Sankranti
Swarn Shikhar Jewellers, Shop No 6, Aashirwad Building, Narayan Gajanan Acharya Marg, Chembur, Mumbai 400071.
Serving families in Chembur, Ghatkopar, Kurla, and across Mumbai for over 40 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Makar Sankranti in 2027?
Makar Sankranti 2027 falls on Friday, 15 January. The sun enters Makara (Capricorn) at 9:14 PM on Thursday, 14 January, which is after sunset, so the festival and its punya kaal shift to the next sunrise.
Why is Makar Sankranti 2027 on 15 January and not 14 January?
Panchang rules hold that punya kaal, the merit period for snan, dana, and auspicious purchases, cannot be observed at night. In 2027 the sun's entry into Makara happens at 9:14 PM on 14 January, after sunset, so the observance moves to sunrise on the 15th. Most printed calendars assume 14 January every year and get 2027 wrong.
What is the Makar Sankranti 2027 punya kaal time in Mumbai?
For Mumbai, punya kaal runs from 7:15 AM to 6:21 PM on Friday, 15 January 2027, sunrise to sunset. The Maha Punya Kaal, the most auspicious window, is 7:15 AM to 9:06 AM. These timings follow Drik Panchang's Mumbai calendar and are sometimes revised closer to the date.
Is it good to buy gold on Makar Sankranti?
Sankranti opens Uttarayan, the sun's six-month northward run, which tradition treats as the auspicious half of the year. Buying gold or silver during punya kaal, and donating a part of it, is a long-standing Sankranti practice. If you plan to buy, the Maha Punya Kaal morning window is the traditional preference.
Is digital gold regulated in India?
No. In November 2025 SEBI cautioned investors that digital gold is neither a security nor a regulated commodity derivative, so it sits outside SEBI's jurisdiction and none of its investor protections apply. Buying digital gold is legal, but if the platform behind it fails, the risk is entirely yours. A hallmarked coin or bar from a jeweller has no platform between you and your gold.
What should I check when buying a gold coin or bar?
Check the purity marking on the metal, have it weighed in front of you, and make sure the bill states both purity and weight. At Swarn Shikhar we test any piece on our gold testing machine before you pay, so you see the purity reading yourself.