Sankranti, Sankraman
Sankranti is celebrated on sankraman day i.e. when Sun transits from one zodiac to the next. According to surya siddhanta, Vedic hindu calender consists 12 months. There are 12 sankrati days in a year and each Sankranti day marks the beginning of the new month in Hindu Solar Calendar.
All twelve Sankranti(s) in the year are considered highly auspicious for performing ancestral rituals (Shraddha and Tarpanam) and daana-punya activities. Only particular time duration before or after each Sankranti moment is considered auspicious for Sankranti related activities.
Meena Sankranti, Meena Sankraman
Meena Sankranti is observed when the sun moves from Kumbha Rashi (Aquarius) to the Meena Rashi (Pisces). This day is the solar calender’s new month and is known as Minam month in Malayalam, Panguni in Tamil, Chôitrô in Bangali.
Meena Sankranti is also called as Meena Sankraman in southern parts of India. For Meena Sankranti auspicious time exists till sixteen Ghatis ( 1 day = 60 Ghatis) after the Sankranti moment and the time window that exists between Sankranti moment to that moment is auspicious for all Dan-Punya activities. Performing Sankramana Snan, Japa, pitru tarpan and shradha are the important rituals of this day.
During Meena Sankranti time bhoodaan (gifting Land) is considered highly auspicious. People also worship Sun God (Surya Bhagavan) on this day.
