Tourism Info Nepal

Maghe Sankranti Celebrated Across Nepal with Devotion and Festivity

Maghe Sankranti Celebrated Across Nepal with Devotion and Festivity

Maghe Sankranti, also known as Makar Sankranti, is being celebrated with enthusiasm and devotion across Nepal today. The festival marks the transition of the sun into the northern hemisphere, symbolizing longer days and shorter nights.

This auspicious occasion is observed by taking holy dips in rivers and ponds, worshipping at temples, and enjoying traditional delicacies such as ghee, yam, Khichadi, and sweets like Chaku and sesame-based treats.

Astrologically, Makar Sankranti is significant as it marks the sun’s ascendancy from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer. According to religious texts like Bhabisya Puran and Dharma Sindhu, observing this festival with proper rituals is believed to bring blessings and robust health.

The Newar community celebrates this day as ‘Ghyo Chaku Sallnhu,’ where families consume ghee and Chaku while remembering departed loved ones. A unique tradition involves seniors applying mildly heated edible oil to the heads of juniors, symbolizing blessings.

In the Tharu and Magar communities, the festival is celebrated as Maghi with vibrant festivities, while people in the Terai regions mark it as the festival of baths, known as Nahan.

Thousands of devotees throng sacred sites such as Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat, and Kankai in Nepal, along with Prayag and Gangasagar in India, for holy dips and Shraddha rituals. In Bhaktapur, a special festival is held at the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple in Taumadhi Tole, where devotees perform puja of Deepakankar Buddha.

From a medical and Ayurvedic perspective, the festival promotes immunity and well-being. The traditional food items consumed during Maghe Sankranti provide a balanced diet rich in nutrients, supporting the body’s health during winter.

In recognition of the festival’s importance, the government has declared a public holiday.

Maghe Sankranti continues to unite diverse communities across Nepal, blending devotion, culture, and health awareness into a vibrant celebration of life and nature’s transitions.

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