Maghe Sankranti (, , Nepal Bhasa: ) is a

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

i festival observed on the first of Magh in the Vikram Sambat (B.S) or Yele calendar marking the end of the

winter solstice The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's geographical pole, poles reaches its maximum axial tilt, tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern Hemisphere, Northern and So ...

and the month of Poush. The

Tharu people The Tharu people are an ethnic group living in the Terai in southern Nepal and northern India. They speak Tharu languages. They are recognized as an official ethnicity by the Government of Nepal. In the Indian Terai, they live foremost in Uttara ...

celebrate this day as their new year. It is also regarded as a major government-declared annual festival of the Magar community. Maghe Sankranti shares similarities with

solstice A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly sun path, excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries ...

festivals in various other religious traditions. Observant

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

s take ritual baths during this festival. These include Janakpurdham, Sankhamul on the Bagmati River near Patan; In the Gandaki/Narayani river basin at Triveni, Devghat near Chitwan Valley and Ridi on the Kaligandaki River; and in the

Koshi River The Kosi or Koshi is a transboundary river which flows through China, Nepal and India. It drains the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet and the southern slopes in Nepal. From a major confluence of tributaries north of the Chatra Gorge onw ...

basin at Dolalghat on the Sun Koshi River. Festive foods like laddoo,

ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from South Asia. It is commonly used for cooking, as a Traditional medicine of India, traditional medicine, and for Hinduism, Hindu religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by ...

, and

sweet potato The sweet potato or sweetpotato (''Ipomoea batatas'') is a dicotyledonous plant in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its sizeable, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable, which is a staple food in parts of ...

es are distributed. Nieces and nephews usually go to Mama Ghar to receive tika, blessings, and dakshina (monetary gifts).

Date and significance

Generally Maghe Sankranti falls on 14 January, and also called

Makar Sankranti Makar(a) Sankrānti (), () also referred to as Uttarāyana, Makara, or simply Sankrānti, is a Hinduism, Hindu observance and a mid-winter harvest festival in India and Nepal. It is typically celebrated on 14 January annually (15 January on a ...

or Maghi in the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

. Maghe Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in Nepal. Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun from one zodiac sign to another, and when the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara), it is called Makara Sankranti. This occasion is called Makara Sankranti in the Pahari context. It is one of the few Nepalese festivals celebrated by the Madhesi, Magar, and

communities on a fixed date, i.e., 14 January because this solar festival, honoring the deity Surya, follows the

solar cycle The Solar cycle, also known as the solar magnetic activity cycle, sunspot cycle, or Schwabe cycle, is a periodic 11-year change in the Sun's activity measured in terms of Modern Maximum, variations in the number of observed sunspots on the Sun ...

of the Bikrami calendar, unlike other festivals that follow lunar cycle. Maghe Sankranti is regarded as marking the beginning of an auspicious phase in

Nepalese culture The culture of Nepal encompasses the various cultures belonging to the 125 distinct ethnic groups present in Nepal. The culture of Nepal is expressed through music and dance; art and craft; folklore; languages and literature; philosophy and rel ...

. It is cited as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Nepali family, from this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of a new harvest or spring season. Across the country, Maghe Sankranti is observed with great fanfares. However, it is celebrated under different names and with distinct rituals in various parts of the country. In the states of northern and western Nepal, the festival is celebrated as Makar Sankranti with special zeal and fervour. The importance of this day is highlighted in ancient epics such as the

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...

. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, Maghe Sankranti holds historical and religious significance. As a festival dedicated to the Sun God, who symbolizes divinity and wisdom, it holds profound significance.

Makar Sankranti and the Winter Solstice

Many Nepalese associate this festival with the

Winter Solstice The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's geographical pole, poles reaches its maximum axial tilt, tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern Hemisphere, Northern and So ...

, and believe that the sun ends its southward journey (Sanskrit: '' Dakshinayana'') at the Tropic of Capricorn, and starts moving northward (Sanskrit: '' Uttarayana'') towards the

Tropic of Cancer The Tropic of Cancer, also known as the Northern Tropic, is the Earth's northernmost circle of latitude where the Sun can be seen directly overhead. This occurs on the June solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun ...

, in the month of '' Poush'' on this day in mid-January. Although there is no direct solar observance of the Winter Solstice in Nepali tradition, the Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival, based on the lunar calendar, falls closest. Additionally, the Sun begins its northward journey the day after the

, as daylight increases. Thus, Makar Sankranti marks the celebration of the day after the Winter Solstice. Scientifically, in the Northern Hemisphere, the

occurs between 21 and 22 December. Daylight begins to increase on 22 December and on this day, the Sun will begin its northward journey which marks ''Uttarayaan''. The date of winter solstice changes gradually due to the Axial precession of the Earth, coming earlier by approximately 1 day in every 70 years. Thus, if Maghe Sankranti once marked the day after the actual Winter Solstice, this would mean that a mid-January date would align with around 300 CE, the peak of Hellenic mathematics and

astronomy Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and their overall evolution. Objects of interest includ ...

, which influenced northern India.

References

External links

Information about festival
*https://web.archive.org/web/20141228094441/http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/01/15/metro/maghe-sankranti-marked-feasting-on-food-varieties/230436.html
Maghe Sankranti In Nepal
*Maharjan, S. (2011, January 6). ''Ghyah-Chāku Salhu (Māgha Sankrānti)''. NEPÆNGLISH. https://nepaenglish.com/2011/01/06/ghyah-chaku-salhu-magha-sankranti/ *‌ {{HinduFestivals Hindu festivals in Nepal Culture of Nepal Culture of Mithila Public holidays in Nepal Hindu festivals Hindu holy days Observances set by the Vikram Samvat calendar January observances Tharu culture Newar culture Khas culture Kirat festivals Culture of Bagmati Culture of Lumbini Culture of Gandaki Magar culture Winter solstice ne:माघे सङ्क्रान्ति new:घ्यःचाकु संल्हु

Date and significance

Makar Sankranti and the Winter Solstice

See also

References

External links