The Maghe Sankranti or Makar Sankranti or Maghi is the greatest festival of Nepalese Hindu people across the globe. This festival falls on the first day of the holy month Magh in the Lunar Calendar.
Devotees take early bath or holy dips in the river and ponds nearby. They perform a special puja worshipping on various temples and offer tika to the nearest ones. During the celebration, the female member of the house prepare special delicacies like khichadi, furaula, roti, ghee, yam, chaku and sweets made of sesame and molasses. So, this festival is also known as “Ghyu Chaku Khane Din”.
Tharu people celebrate the day as Maghi. This is the New year for them to celebrate. Early in the morning, they tak a holy bath and worship God Shiva. They put tika on their forehead and take blessings from the elders. They enjoy the delicious meal, wear new cloths and take part in cultural activities.
This festival is also celebrate by the Newar, Magar, Kirat, Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar, Sural, Girel, Thami, Baram, Dhimal community with great importance.
On the day, the sun changes its direction from south to North. So, this day indicates the start of warmer days or longer days and shorter nights.
There are melas (gathering of people) in different parts of the country such as Devghat, Ridi, Baraha Chetra, Banks of some famous river and temples.
