Some were asking why Sankranti is on 15th January this year and not 14th. I found this useful scientific explanation.
Makara Sankranti for the next 69 years will fall on 15th January, not 14th. It is simply a function of precession of equinoxes.
Also, it is important to understand that Ayana is understood from the tropical position of the Sun, not Sidereal. So, Sankranti is no longer co-terminus with Uttarayan. The reason is the same - precession of Earth.
From the next century (every 72 years approximately), Makara Sankranti would be on 16th January!
Remember - During the third battle of Panipat, Sankranti was on the 10th, as the war was happening on that tithi. Also, Swami Vivekananda was born on 12-Jan-1863 and it was Sankranti on that day.
Every year, the time taken by Sun to enter makara rashi shifts by 20 minutes. So it takes 72 years (24x60/20) to shift by one full day. You can check Sankranti date over the years...it matches.
It's perfect mathematics.
HAPPY SANKARANTI, EVERYONE!
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