Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of Cambridge, United States with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
Sankranti is a phenomenon when the Sun transits from one zodiac to another zodiac while travelling through zodiac belt. There are twelve Sankranti in a solar year.
Vedic astrology personifies Sankranti. In Vedic astrology, Sankranti is 60 Yojana (approximately 432 Km) wide and long. Sankranti has a figure of a man with one face, long nose, wide lips and nine arms. It moves in forwards direction but keeps watching backwards. It keeps revolving while holding a coconut shell in one hand.
As per Hindu beliefs, the above personification seems inauspicious and hence Sankranti window is prohibited for all auspicious activities. However, the Sankranti duration is considered highly significant for charity, penance and Shradh rituals. People offer alms to needy, take bath in holy rivers and perform Shradh for ancestors during Sankranti.
Vedic astrology also lists characteristic of each Sankranti based on Panchang. These characteristics are an omen of coming events in the month. Whatever items are influenced by Sankranti are believed to go through a bad time. E.g. if Sankranti is adorning with gold then the coming month is not good for those who deal in gold commodity and so on.