Makar Sankranti is a festival which is one of India’s most sacred festivals. This festival marks the transition of the Sun enetring into Capricorn which is considered as Makara Rashi. In Ayodhya the birthplace of Lord Ram it carries special religious significance. Every year thousands of devotees gather on the ghats of the Saryu River to take a holy dip and these devotees offer prayers to the Sun God. The celebration blends a devotional culture and ancient tradition which making Makar Sankranti in Ayodhya a spiritually uplifting experience for the devotees.
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Significance of Makar Sankranti
According to Hindu belief Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of Uttarayan in which considered the Sun’s northward journey. It is known for one of the most auspicious times for performing religious deeds in this time the devotees take a part in offering charity and taking sacred baths. When coming to devotional scriptures like the Skanda Purana, it has mention that a dip in the Saryu River on this day brings salvation whic is moksha and washes away sins of several lifetimes so thats why hindus considered this festival as devine.
Ayodhya’s importance multiplies this festival as it is not just a pilgrimage site but the divine city of Lord Ram. Devotees believe that bathing in the Saryu on Makar Sankranti opens the path to spiritual purity and prosperity.
Makar Sankranti Date and Time of Celebration in 2026
In 2026 Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Tuesday which is on January 14 when the Surya Sankranti moment is going to occurs at 8:32 AM (IST). The most sacred time for bathing known as Punya Kaal which will last from 8:32 AM to 5:46 PM.
- Main Snan Muhurat: 8:32 AM – 10:00 AM
- Punya Kaal Duration: 9 hours 14 minutes
During this period the thousands of devotees take a dip in the holy Saryu River and offer Arghya which is called as water offering to the rising sun.
Scale of the Celebration
Every year Ayodhya sees an enormous gathering during Makar Sankranti. In 2025 an estimated 10 lakh devotees visited the ghats for the ritual bath. Authorities expect this number to exceed 12 lakh in 2026 considering the rising inflow after the opening of the Ram Mandir.
To manage the crowd the Ayodhya District Administration deployed around 3,500 police personnel 1,200 sanitation workers and sets up 100 medical camps across the ghats and temple areas.
Ritual Bath in the Saryu River
The main attraction of Makar Sankranti in Ayodhya is the Saryu Snan (holy bath). The Saryu River, mentioned in the Ramayana, is believed to cleanse sins and purify the soul.
Key bathing ghats include:
- Naya Ghat – The most popular ghat for Sankranti Snan; over 3 lakh people bathe here annually.
- Ram Ki Paidi – Known for its scenic steps and divine view of the sunrise.
- Guptar Ghat – This Ghat is usually Associated with Lord Ram’s final journey which is considered highly sacred.
Devotees start arriving here as early as 3:30 AM in the moring and the main bathing activity continues till 11:00 AM. The administration provides temporary changing rooms, drinking water stalls, and lost-and-found centers for pilgrims’ which provide a better convenience.
Rituals and Offerings
After the holy dip devotees perform Surya Arghya ritual in this ritual they offer water, flowers, and sesame seeds to the Sun God who is known to be surya bhagwan. Women prepare til (sesame) laddoos, gur (jaggery) sweets, and khichdi for this day which are considered sacred foods of this festival.
Other common rituals include:
- Charity (Daan): In this one they Offer clothes, food and money to Brahmins and the needy.
- Deep Daan: Lighting small oil lamps on the ghats after sunset.
- Pind Daan: Rituals for ancestors performed on Guptar Ghat and Ram Ki Paidi.
On average over 15,000 Deep Daan lamps float on the Saryu every year which is seen very beautifully and lighting up the river with divine brilliance during the evening Aarti.
Temples and Religious Ceremonies
Temples across Ayodhya hold special prayers and bhajans on Makar Sankranti which resonance all over the temple. The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple organizes early morning Suryadev Aarti and Prasad Seva.
At Hanuman Garhi priests conduct Til Abhishek of Lord Hanuman with sesame oil.
The Kanak Bhawan Temple sees a surge in devotees offering gur, ghee and rice to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita in which the devotees do with gladly.
In 2026 the Ayodhya Temple Trust expects over 1.2 lakh devotees to participate in temple rituals throughout the day.
Cultural Celebrations
Besides religious rituals Makar Sankranti in Ayodhya also brings festive joy. Therefore the local communities organize Sankranti Mela at Ram Katha Park which is attracting over 50,000 visitors.
Events include:
- Kite Flying Competitions on the banks of the Saryu
- Folk dance performances such as Birha and Ramlila songs
- Local food stalls serving til-gur chikki, kachori, and ladoo
The evening concludes with a mesmerizing Saryu Aarti attended by both locals and tourists.
Safety and Facilities for Pilgrims
For 2026 the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation and Tourism Department have upgraded facilities to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience so that no one can harm while they are in enjoyment and spenting time with the friends and family
- 40 bathing ghats cleaned and maintained with continuous water flow so that the user should not feet incompleteness.
- 50 CCTV cameras installed across the riverfront for better survivalance and reducing the crimes too.
- 15 medical response teams and 12 mobile toilets for public use in an emergency.
- Free bus service from Ram Mandir to Naya Ghat every 10 minutes available.
Additionally public address systems guide pilgrims during rush hours, and 2 lakh liters of clean water are supplied daily through mobile tanks during the event.
Environmental and Social Efforts
Authorities have initiated a Clean Saryu Campaign involving 2,000 volunteers to ensure the ghats remain pollution-free. Use of plastic items is banned, and biodegradable containers are encouraged for offerings. NGOs distribute eco-friendly diya sets and cloth bags among devotees.
Moreover, several social groups organize food distribution drives serving over 1 lakh free meals during the festival day.
Travel and Stay Information
Ayodhya is well-connected by road, rail and air.
- Ayodhya Dham Railway Station handles over 60 trains daily during festive periods because of numerous number of pilgrims visits.
- The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport operates direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Varanasi.
- Pilgrims can find accommodations ranging from ₹300 Dharamshalas to ₹10,000 hotels near the temple area.
Visitors are advised to reach Ayodhya a day before Sankranti as heavy traffic restrictions begin on the morning of January 14.
Conclusion
Makar Sankranti in Ayodhya is not just a festival it’s a celebration of faith, discipline, and devotion for the hindu community. The sacred Saryu River becomes a confluence of spirituality and joy and also plays a keyrole in this festival, In this festive where millions unite to honor the Sun God and seek divine blessings from him as per the hindu ideology. With improved facilities organized rituals and deep-rooted traditions are in Ayodhya in 2026 stands ready to welcome every pilgrim with warmth and holiness. A dip in the Saryu on this day is believed to cleanse the body, calm the mind, and illuminate the soul with divine light.