THE FAST, END TO END
From sankalp to parana
Roughly ~26 hours. The part most people get wrong is the end, not the beginning.
Sankalp & sunrise
14 Jan · 06:02 AM
The fast
No grains · fruit, milk and water permitted
Tithi ends
14 Jan · 10:18 PM
Parana window opens
15 Jan sunrise · 06:02 AM
Window closes
Dwadashi ends · 08:17 AM
Fast beginsTithi boundaryParana windowYou are here
Sankalp & sunrise
14 Jan · 06:02 AM
A simple resolve. The fast begins here.
The fast — through the day and night
No grains. Fruit, milk and water permitted. Nirjala is one form, not the requirement.
Makar Sankranti tithi ends
14 Jan · 10:18 PM
The fast continues past this point — it ends at parana, not at the tithi.
Parana window opens
15 Jan, sunrise · 06:02 AM
Window closes — Dwadashi ends
15 Jan · 08:17 AM
Break the fast before this.
THE FULL PANCHANG FOR THIS DATE
Wednesday, 14 Jan 2026, New Delhi
COMPUTED VALUES · PURNIMANTA
TithiMagha Krishna EkadashiBegins 11:42 PM (13 Jan) · ends 10:18 PM (14 Jan)
PakshaKrishna — waning
NakshatraPushyaUntil 04:12 PM
Yoga · KaranaHarshana · Balava
Sunrise · Sunset06:02 AM · 06:35 PM
Rahu Kaal03:20 PM – 04:53 PMAvoided by convention for new beginnings
Parana window15 Jan, 06:02 AM – 08:17 AMApproximately 2h 15m
THIS PAGE ANSWERS "WHEN"
For "how", read the guide
The vidhi, the katha, the fasting forms and the corrections all live in the Ritual Guide — which does not change from one observance to the next.
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RITUAL GUIDE
Makar Sankranti Ritual Guide
Sankalp, grain rules, three fasting forms, and parana rules explained for Makar Sankranti.
ASKED EVERY TIME
Quick answers for this date
?Do I fast on the main date or the next day?
Households following the Smarta convention fast on the primary tithi date. Vaishnava observers follow a distinct rule for the same tithi and may fast on the subsequent morning. Both are authentic within their respective traditions.
?What if I wake up after the parana window has closed?
Break the fast as soon as possible upon waking. Traditional guidance treats a late parana as an imperfect observance rather than an invalid one — simply break your fast and set an alarm for future observances.
?Can I drink water during the fast?
Yes. Waterless (Nirjala) fasting is an optional discipline, not a strict requirement for most observances. Fruit, milk, and water are permitted in standard household observances. The central restriction is grain avoidance.
?Why does the date differ between apps and locations?
A tithi starts at a precise astronomical moment, but the Hindu calendar day begins at local sunrise. Because sunrise times vary across cities, a tithi beginning before sunrise in New Delhi may cross a different boundary in other locations.
THIS VRAT RECURS
Every Festival in 2026
Twice a lunar month, twenty-four times a year. Each has its own name and its own parana window.