Sarva PanchangSarva Panchang
Sankranti

Mesha Sankranti

Also called: Maha Vishuva Sankranti, Vaisakhi, Solar New Year, Puthandu, Vishu

Mesha Sankranti is the astronomical start of the Hindu Solar New Year, when the Sun enters the first sign of the zodiac, Aries (Mesha). It is traditionally called Maha Vishuva, the great equinox, although because of precession the actual spring equinox now falls more than three weeks earlier, around 20 March. Celebrated across India with immense cultural and religious joy as the festival of harvest and renewal.

Key facts

Paksha
Vishuva Class (Equinox Ingress)
Lunar month
Sun enters Mesha (Aries) in Chaitra / Vaishakha
Observed on
The day the Sun enters Mesha Rashi (~April 13-14)
Deities
Surya Dev, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva

The story

Ancient astronomers marked this day as the beginning of the Sun's fresh celestial journey. In Sikh history, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa on this day in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib.

Practices

  • Taking a sacred bath in holy rivers at dawn (Ganga, Yamuna, Cauvery)
  • Charity of sattu (roasted gram flour), seasonal fruits, water pots, and hand fans (Pankha Daan)
  • Reading the new solar Panchang (Panchanga Sravanam) to understand planetary trends for the year
  • Exchanging festive New Year greetings and sweet preparations

Regional variations

  • Celebrated as Vaisakhi in Punjab, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu in Kerala, Pohela Boishakh in Bengal, Pana Sankranti in Odisha, and Bohag Bihu in Assam

Common questions

Why is Sattu consumed on Mesha Sankranti?
Sattu (roasted gram flour) is cooling and easy to digest, perfectly suited for the onset of hot summer temperatures.

Types of Sankranti