Maghe Sankranti Festival in Nepal

What is the meaning of Maghe Sankranti?

The term "Sankranti" in Eastern Astrology refers to the Sun's transition from one Rashi (a zodiac sign) to another. In this context, the phrase "Rashi" refers to a sign of the zodiac. Sankranti simply means the first day of the Nepali calendar, which implies that there are 12 such Sankranti in a Nepali calendar year. In addition, the transition of the sun from the position of Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius) to the position of Makara Rashi is observed during Maghe Sankranti (Capricorn). Hence, it is also called Makar Sankranti. On the other hand, Sadhguru considers Makar Sankranti a festival that is based on a profound comprehension of both the geometry of the universe and the geometry of a human being.

In Hindu astrology, there are 12 different "rashis" that correspond to the different positions of the sun during the year (zodiac signs). The twelve months of the Bikram Sambat, the twelve months of the Zodiac, and the twelve months of the lunar calendar are extremely difficult to organize. Sankranti is celebrated both as a solar event and in accordance with the traditional calendar, which is based on the movements of the moon.

Why is Maghe Sankranti celebrated?

The significance of Maghe Sankranti mainly lies in the establishing of bonds between members of a family and the community. Nepal puts a significant value on the joyful celebration that takes place on this specific day. According to the customs of the Hindu religion, the significance of Maghe Sankranti is mentioned in the literature of some religious holy books. According to the most important part of the Mahabharata, Bhisma Pitamaha, who had enormous power and was also blessed with the ability to choose when he would pass away, made the decision to do so on this particular day. It is for this reason that it is thought that individuals who pass away on this day will achieve Moksha, or freedom from the endless cycle of birth and reincarnation.

The different ethnic groups each celebrate the festival of Maghe Sankranti in their own unique way. Delicacies are prepared differently from one group to the next. This also highlights aspects of Nepalese culture, such as the close links that exist between families and the joyful festivals that are celebrated.

When is Maghe Sankranti celebrated in Nepal?

The Nepali festival Magh Sankranti is celebrated on the first day of the Magh month of the Nepali calendar, which usually falls in January. The exact date of the festival changes each year, depending on the lunar calendar. The festival is based on the lunar calendar, so it's not fixed on a specific date on the Gregorian calendar. The date of the festival is determined by the movement of the moon, and it typically falls on a full moon day in the month of Magh according to Nepali lunar calendar.

The Nepali lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and is different from the Gregorian calendar that is widely used in the Western world. So the date of Maghe Sankranti will differ each year as it follows the lunar calendar. It usually falls around January 14th or 15th of the Gregorian calendar. But it can also happen to fall on January 13 or 16.

How is Maghe Sankranti celebrated in Nepal?

Magh Sankranti is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm in Nepal, particularly among the Hindu community. The festival is celebrated on the first day of Magh month in the Nepali calendar, which usually falls in January.

Some of the ways in which the nepali festival Makar Sankranti is celebrated include:

• Taking a holy dip in rivers and other bodies of water: It is believed that taking a dip in rivers on Maghe Sankranti washes away sins and purifies the soul. Many people, particularly in rural areas, take a dip in rivers such as the Koshi, Gandaki, and Narayani.
• Making and distributing special foods: Special foods such as ladoo, chaku, and ghee are made and distributed among friends and relatives on Maghe Sankranti.
• Visiting temples and performing offerings: People visit temples and shrines, and perform offerings and rituals to appease the gods and goddesses.
• Flying kites: Maghe Sankranti marks the beginning of the warmer weather, and many people take to the rooftops to fly kites.
• Bonfire: People also celebrate Maghe Sankranti by lighting a bonfire and dancing around it to celebrate the end of winter.
• Giving charity: Magh Sankranti is considered an auspicious day for performing religious activities and making donations to the poor.
• Bullfighting: The people of the Taruka village celebrate it by organizing the bullfight for their entertainment purpose.
• Farming festival: As it marks the beginning of the harvesting season, farmers celebrate this day by expressing gratitude to their land and the tools they use.

The celebration of the festival may vary depending on the location and community, but these are some of the common ways in which Magh Sankranti is celebrated in Nepal.

What are the special delicacies during Maghe Sankranti?

During the Maghe Sankranti festival, many special delicacies are prepared and consumed in Nepal. Some of the most special delicacies include:

• Laddu: This is a round sweet made from ghee, sugar, seeds and flour. It is considered a traditional delicacy of Maghe Sankranti and is often distributed among friends and family.
• Chaku: It is a traditional sweet made of jaggery and sesame seeds.
• Til ko laddu: It is a special delicacy made from sesame seeds and jaggery, specially prepared for Maghe Sankranti.
• Ghee: Ghee, which is clarified butter, is used in many Nepali dishes, including the sweets and delicacies made for Maghe Sankranti.
• Yomari: It is a traditional steamed dumpling made from rice flour and filled with chaku or brown sugar. They are specially eaten by the Newar community during Maghe Sankranti.
• Sel roti: It is a traditional Nepalese sweet bread made from rice flour. It is fried and crispy.
• Yam, Cassava, Sweet Potato: Tuberous root vegetables are pre-cooked a day before Maghe Sankranti and eaten on the day of it to prevent the cold weather.

These are some of the special delicacies consumed during the Maghe Sankranti festival in Nepal. Some of the delicacies may vary in different regions of Nepal, but these are some of the common sweets that are consumed during this festival.

Maghe Sankranti - The New year of Tharu Community of Nepal

Maghe Sankranti is also known as the holy phase of transition, and is also the new year of the Tharu community of Nepal. The Tharu people follow a lunar calendar that is different from the official Nepalese calendar. As this day is valued as the harvest season, the Tharu people finish all their fieldworks, and celebrate their hard work and enjoy their new year by singing and dancing their special cultural dances along with special puffed and bitten rice balls, chaku, ghee, yam and other tuberous roots in order to beat the cold weather and bring warmth in the family. These delicacies bring more joy and interesting celebrations to the community. During the festival, the Tharu people also perform various rituals and make offerings to their ancestors and gods for prosperity and good luck in the new year.

Traditionally, Tharu society is agrarian, so the festival also celebrates the end of the harvest season, when Tharu people express gratitude to their land, tools, and the gods of agriculture. It's a time of celebration, and many families and communities come together to mark the beginning of a new year and to wish each other well for the coming months.

Bullfighting on Maghe Sankranti 

Among various cultures, bullfighting is one of the most unique practices during the nepali festival Maghe Sankranti. Maghe Sankranti is a harvest festival that marks the start of the agricultural season, when the days become warmer and longer. As it falls in mid-January, the dates are also related to the movement of the zodiac sign as practiced in the Nepali calendar. On this day, Taruka awaits a cultural festival, and participants around the country organize the cultural bullfighting on Maghe Sankranti just for entertainment and the resolution of various socio-cultural problems.

Many people from neighboring villages travel to Nuwakot's Taruka village to witness the amazing bullfighting on Maghe Sankranti. As part of the annual celebration of Maghe Sankranti, the bulls are prepared and trained by the people, and then they are released to fight on a plain ground at Chandani, which is located in the Taruka village. When the bull is completely exhausted and worn out, the competition is over, and the owner of the bull that performed the best receives a cash prize in addition to certificates. It is widely held that Bajhangi King Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh was the one who first brought bullfighting to Taruka for the purposes of entertainment. This has been a tradition for more than a century, organized in different spots across Nuwakot and Dhading. Bullfighting on Maghe Sankranti is a very important part of Taruka's culture, society, and economy, and also has a cultural importance. 

Which god is worshiped during Maghe Sankranti?

The sun god, Lord Vishnu, and goddess Laxmi are worshiped during the festival of Maghe Sankranti. On this day, the hindu followers take bath in the holy rivers early in the morning during the sunrise and worship the sun and pray for the warmth, good health and better future of the family members. It is also believed that the sun god accepts the prayers and solves the problems of his devotees. This is because the festival marks the beginning of the month of Magh, which is considered an auspicious month for performing religious activities. The festival marks the end of the month of Poush, which is considered inauspicious for religious activities.

Sun god is considered the ruler of the solar system and one of the Navagraha (nine planetary) deities in Hinduism. Worshiping Surya is believed to bring health, wealth, and prosperity, remove obstacles, and bring good luck. On this day, many Hindus take a holy dip in rivers, perform offerings and rituals to the Sun God, and make donations. People visit temples dedicated to Surya and perform puja and other rituals to seek his blessings. In addition to Surya, other Hindu gods and goddesses are also worshiped on this day, according to regional and personal beliefs and practices.

Maghe Sankranti and Winter Solstice

The Nepali festival Maghe Sankranti is one of the most important celebrations that falls on the first day of the month of Magh (according to the Bikram Sambat calendar, or about January 14). The festival is also referred to as Makar Sankranti in some communities. In Nepal, the beginning of the holy month of Magh is a cheerful occasion that is celebrated on this day. In contrast to the cold month of Poush, the festival is seen as the start of the warmer days to come (December). It is thought that this day marks the beginning of the sun's movement into the northern hemisphere. The Winter Solstice, also known as the "shortest day of the year,"  is the day of the year when the Northern Hemisphere has its shortest amount of daylight and the longest night. This event typically occurs around December 21st or 22nd. It marks the first day of winter and the start of the gradual increase in daylight hours as we move towards the summer solstice. The Winter Solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years by many cultures, often as a way to mark the passing of the year and celebrate the return of the sun. So, Maghe Sankranti is a festival celebrated for religious and cultural reasons, and Winter Solstice is an astronomical event happening once a year where daylight hours reach the minimum. And it's interesting to note that they occur around the same time of the year which is January.

Conclusion 

All these unique features make the nepali festival Magh Sankranti a special festival, deeply ingrained in the cultural and religious traditions of Nepal, and celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by many different communities. In short, Makar Sankranti is a festival that has been celebrated for centuries in the Hindu tradition, and its origins are likely rooted in ancient religious and agricultural practices. The festival has evolved over time, but it continues to be an important event in the cultural and religious calendar of Nepal and other parts of South Asia. 

If you are interested in experiencing this interesting festival and witness the significances of Maghe Sankranti, your best option is to visit Nepal around the month of January. The festival of Maghe Sankranti will be celebrated on Tuesday, 14th of January, 2024. You can also have the chance to experience the diverse customs and cultures of the Tharu Community. To learn more about taking part in Nepali festivals and to get further information, get in touch with us.