Dhanu Sankranti
Also called Dhanu Yatra, Pausha Sankranti
When
Wednesday, 16 December 2026 in 97 days
New Delhi · change location
at sunrise. This observance is governed by sankranti-instant, not by the sunrise tithi — which is why the tithi named here is often not the one the festival is named for.
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Governed by sankranti-instant
Why this date?
The Sun's entry into Dhanu, opening the solar month of Dhanu. A solar event, so it sits on nearly the same civil date each year.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- The governing period is stated, and the rule is applied to it
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate →
What In short
The opening of the solar month of Dhanu. In Odisha it begins the Dhanu Yatra at Bargarh — an open-air enactment of the Krishna–Kamsa narrative staged across the whole town for eleven days. In Kerala the same period is the Mandala season's heart.
- Deity: Surya; Jagannath
Why The reason behind it
Bargarh's Dhanu Yatra takes the town itself as the set: the town is Mathura, a nearby village is Gokul, the river between them the Yamuna, and a man plays Kamsa with real authority over the proceedings for the duration. It is claimed as the largest open-air theatre in the world, and it begins on this sankranti.
Traditional basis
Odia Dhanu Yatra tradition at Bargarh — The eleven-day enactment beginning on the Dhanu sankranti.
Solar calendar convention — Dhanu 1 as the month's beginning, from the Sun's entry into Sagittarius.
How At home, step by step
- Attend the Dhanu Yatra at Bargarh where possible; the enactment runs eleven days.
- The month is otherwise kept as an austere one — Dhanu is generally avoided for auspicious beginnings.
Fasting and breaking the fast
Not a fasting day.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice — if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
Personal In your region
- Odisha (Odia)
Bargarh's Dhanu Yatra is the defining observance. - Kerala (Malayalam)
Falls within the Mandala vratam season; the month carries the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
For children
The day a whole town in Odisha turns into the story of Krishna and Kamsa for eleven days, with the streets as the stage.
Common questions
- Why is the month of Dhanu avoided for weddings?
- Because it is held inauspicious for new beginnings in most reckonings — the same convention that makes the Malayalam and Tamil equivalents an austere and devotional period rather than a celebratory one.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.