Kanya Sankranti

Kanya Sankranti is one of the twelve Sankranti days which occur in a year. Sankranti occurs when the Sun does transition from one house to the other in the zodiac signs. Simply, Sankranti signifies the beginning of the new month in the Hindu calendar.

Kanya Sankranti is the transition of the Sun from Simha Rasi to Kanya Rasi. It occurs in the Hindu month Bhadra Padha.

Kanya Sankranti occurs on Monday, 16th September 2024. The exact commencement of Kanya Sankranti has to be ascertained from the respective regional calendars. The festival is also called as Kanya Sankramam.

As per Bhavishya Puran, Bhagwan Surya’s Chariot was designed by Sri Brahma Himself. It is driven by Aruna, the Sarathy of Sri Surya. The Chariot is pulled by seven horses which depict seven days of the week.

Apart from Sri Surya, two Adityas, two Rishis, two Gandharvas, two Apsaras, two Nagas and two Rakshas (demons) also travel in the chariot. For every pair of two months, the travelers change.

For the two months pair of Aavani (Shravana) and Purattasi (Bhadrapadha), the following travel with Sri Surya.

Adityas – Indra and Vaivasvana
Rishis – Aangeera and Bruhu
Gandharvas – Vishvavasu and Ukrasena
Apsaras – Brahmlosandhi and Anumalosandhi
Nagas – Elapathra and Sangapala
Rakshas – Sarpa and Vyagra

Kanya Sankranti – Rituals

-Holy dip / bath has to be taken, if possible, in rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Godavari. If bath is taken in a river, both the hands should be joined in a cup, some water has to be taken from the running river and poured back into the river looking at the Sun.
-Pithur tharpana for the departed souls of the family is observed.
-Puja place at home is to be decorated with lamps, dhup and flowers.
-Stotrams invoking Lord Surya are to be sincerely recited.
-Sweets are to be offered as Neivedyam and distributed to all.
– Mostly fasting is observed. For those who cannot do fasting, only sattvic food has to be partaken.
-Daan / donation of either food or money or clothing or any other item can be made to the poor and the needy.
It is believed that making daan on this day shall bring in prosperity.