# Makar Sankranti coincides with Shattila Ekadashi after 19 years, leaving fasting devotees away from traditional khichdi > A rare alignment of Makar Sankranti and Shattila Ekadashi on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, means devotees observing the Vaishnava fast will refrain from eating traditional rice khichdi. **Type:** article · **Category:** Spirituality · **Published:** 2026-09-24 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/spirituality/makar-sankranti-para-19-sala-bada-bana-durlabha-snyoga-shattila-ekadashi-ke-karana-chavala-ke-sevana-para-assam-njasa-38114 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Makar Sankranti, Shattila Ekadashi, Khichdi, Pandit Manotpal Jha, Purnia, Ekadashi Fast, Religious Traditions Makar Sankranti marks a joyous milestone in the cultural calendar, celebrated across the country with religious fervour, charity, and culinary festivities. A cherished, centuries-old custom on this auspicious festival involves cooking and sharing flavourful khichdi alongside an assortment of homemade festive delicacies. While families traditionally gather to enjoy this meal as part of their seasonal celebrations, the upcoming festival brings a unique astrological and religious circumstance that will prevent many devotees from consuming khichdi on the day itself. ## A 19-year astrological alignment on Wednesday The festival of Makar Sankranti will be observed on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. Astrologer Pandit Manotpal Jha from Purnia explained that while eating khichdi is by no means prohibited on Makar Sankranti, the day coincides exactly with Shattila Ekadashi. Such an intersection of Makar Sankranti and this particular Ekadashi fast is taking place after a gap of approximately 19 years, lending rare spiritual significance to the occasion. ## The strict ban on rice during Ekadashi fasts In traditional Hindu practice, Ekadashi is dedicated entirely to the worship and adoration of Lord Vishnu. A central stricture for anyone undertaking this sacred fast is the complete avoidance of rice in any form. Religious tenets hold that consuming rice on Ekadashi impairs the spiritual efficacy of the observance. Because khichdi relies fundamentally on rice as a primary ingredient, devotees observing the fast in honour of Lord Vishnu will have to forgo the classic dish during their Makar Sankranti festivities. ## Rules for fasting devotees and non-fasters Pandit Manotpal Jha clarified that the restriction applies specifically to those observing the Ekadashi fast. Devotees committed to the ritual can simply prepare and consume their festive khichdi on the following day after completing their fast. Meanwhile, households and individuals who do not observe the Ekadashi fast remain entirely free to prepare and enjoy the traditional khichdi on Makar Sankranti without any hesitation. ## What this means for you The rare coincidence of Makar Sankranti and Shattila Ekadashi alters traditional cooking and dining practices for Hindu households. - **For fasting devotees:** Devotees observing the sacred fast cannot consume rice-based khichdi on 14 January 2026. They must wait until the following day after the fast concludes to eat the traditional dish. - **For non-fasting households:** Individuals not undertaking the religious fast face no culinary restrictions whatsoever. They can prepare and consume khichdi on Makar Sankranti just as in any regular year. - **Kitchen preparations:** Households with both fasting and non-fasting members will need to plan two distinct menus. Fasting items must be prepared separately from the traditional rice-based festive meal. - **Spiritual significance:** Occurring after an interval of 19 years, this rare alignment doubles the auspiciousness of charitable acts and bathing rituals. Devotees can combine Makar Sankranti charity with dedicated worship of Lord Vishnu. ## Why this happened This rare situation is caused by the astronomical calendar bringing two major religious observances onto the exact same date. - **Calendar alignment:** On Wednesday, 14 January 2026, the sun enters Capricorn on the exact date of Shattila Ekadashi. Astrological records show that this particular combination occurs after a gap of roughly 19 years. - **Scriptural rice prohibitions:** Hindu scriptures strictly forbid the intake of rice during any Ekadashi observance dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Because khichdi is primarily composed of rice, fasting devotees cannot consume it without violating their religious vows. - **Harmonising festival customs:** While eating khichdi is a deeply rooted customary practice on Makar Sankranti, scriptural fasting rules take precedence. Consequently, religious scholars advise fasting observers to defer their khichdi meal until the next day. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. On which date will Makar Sankranti be celebrated in 2026? Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. ### 2. Why will some people avoid eating khichdi on Makar Sankranti? The festival falls on Shattila Ekadashi, a day when religious rules forbid fasting devotees from eating rice. ### 3. After how many years is this combination occurring? According to astrologer Pandit Manotpal Jha, this rare alignment occurs after approximately 19 years. ### 4. Can people who are not fasting still eat khichdi? Yes, individuals who are not observing the Ekadashi fast can freely prepare and consume khichdi. ### 5. When can fasting devotees consume their traditional khichdi? Devotees observing the Ekadashi fast can prepare and enjoy khichdi the following day after concluding their fast. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._