Kanya Sankranti कन्या संक्रांती
The Sun enters the Maiden - tools and workshops honour Vishwakarma.
- Sun enters
- Kanya (Virgo)
- Around
- mid-September
- Ayana
- Dakshinayana (southward)
- Worship
- Surya (the Sun)
Significance
Kanya Sankranti marks the Sun's entry into Kanya (Virgo). Across much of northern and eastern India it is kept as Vishwakarma Puja, honouring Vishwakarma - the divine architect and patron of craftsmen, engineers and machines.
How it is observed
Workshops, factories and toolrooms are cleaned and decorated, and tools, machinery and vehicles are worshipped for a safe and productive year. The day also falls near the fortnight of ancestral remembrance, so charity and offerings to the forefathers are common.
The Sun’s course
Kanya Sankranti falls in the Sun’s Dakshinayana - its southward, inward half of the year. The year’s two turning points are Makar Sankranti (the turn to Uttarayana, mid-January) and Karka Sankranti (the turn to Dakshinayana, mid-July). See the full Sankranti guide for all twelve solar ingresses of the year.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kanya Sankranti?
Kanya Sankranti marks the Sun's entry into Kanya (Virgo). Across much of northern and eastern India it is kept as Vishwakarma Puja, honouring Vishwakarma - the divine architect and patron of craftsmen, engineers and machines.
When is Kanya Sankranti in Mumbai, MH?
Kanya Sankranti falls in mid-September; the next one for Mumbai, MH is on 17 September 2026. Being set by the solar calendar, its date barely shifts from year to year.
Which sign does the Sun enter on Kanya Sankranti?
On Kanya Sankranti the Sun leaves the previous sign and enters Kanya (Virgo), the sixth sign of the zodiac. This falls in the Sun's Dakshinayana (southward) course.
How is Kanya Sankranti observed?
Workshops, factories and toolrooms are cleaned and decorated, and tools, machinery and vehicles are worshipped for a safe and productive year. The day also falls near the fortnight of ancestral remembrance, so charity and offerings to the forefathers are common.
Last updated 26 July 2026