June 11, 2017: 'Mithuna Sankranti' marks the initiation of the third solar month in the Hindu calendar. All the 12 'Sankranti' observed in one year are highly auspicious and considered to be holy occasions for the 'Dan-Punya' activities. Only certain moments before or after each Sankranti is considered to be auspicious for observing the rituals or activities related to Sankranti.
For 'Mithuna Sankranti', the time period of sixteen "ghati"(s) after the Sankranti moment is considered to be "subh" or holy period. The time between the Sankranti moment and the sixteen ghatis after the Sankranti moment are utilized for 'Dan-Punya' activities.
During this 'Sankranti', donation or gift of clothes are considered to be auspicious.
In the present year, the 'Mithuna Sankranti' falls on 14th or 15th June. In South India, 'Sankranti' is known as 'Sankranaman'.