Meena Sankranti 2024: Significance | Rituals | Tithi

What is Meena Sankranti?
The start of the twelfth month in the Hindu calendar is celebrated as Meena Sankranti.
This is the last month and the sun enters the house of Pisces on this day. This day is also known as Meena Sankramanam in Southern India. Like all other Sankranti festivals, on this day it is auspicious to donate articles and receive blessings.
It is said that the sixteen ghatis that follow the Sankranti are considered shubh ghatis. There are many types of holy chanting and pujas done in families to free oneself from sins of the past. Bathing in the Holy waters of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati are considered auspicious. Sankranti means the onset of a new month according to all other Hindu cultures except Bengali and so it is believed that good deeds of today will pay off throughout the coming month.

Meena Sankranti 2024: Date and Time
In 2024, Meena Sankranti will take place on Thursday, March 14, the time is 12:46 PM. 

Significance:

Meena Sankranti has a unique significance among all the other forms of Sankranti as it is marking the final month of the Hindu calendar and the sun is moving from Mesha to Meena,
which is considered a highly auspicious event. Donations and Charity are carried out during this auspicious time. It is believed that the donation of valuables and lands during this period will bring happiness and divine blessings to the donator. 

Rituals:

Meena Sankranti is celebrated all across India with grandeur. Different temples are decorated with colorful diyas and different kinds of flowers. People from all over the country participate in the Dan-Punya activities. There are 16 Ghatis that are considered to be Shubh or auspicious after the Sun’s perfect transition from one sign to another.  The puja vidhi is marked by acts of devotion to the Sun God. Devotees follow the ritual of taking a dip in the sacred rivers Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, and Cauvery before dawn and offer prayers to the Sun god. If anyone is unable to access these rivers then they can access any nearby river for the ritual. They are supposed to take water from the flowing river in their hands and pour it back while chanting Surya mantras. This ritual is followed by seeking blessings from the elders and donations. Philanthropic acts of gifting land and valuables are viewed as taking part in heavenly acts. Other rituals that are also performed during this day are Japa, pitru tarpan, and shradha.

Click here to read the story of river ganga falling from heaven to earth and how Meena Sankranti became a significant day for ganga maiya.