KATHMANDU: Maghe Sankranti or Makar Sankranti is being celebrated throughout the country today. It is being observed by taking holy dips in rivers and ponds, worshiping at various temples and savouring delicacies like ghee, yam, khichadi and sweets like Chaku and sweets made of sesame and molasses.
As per astrological chart, the Makar Sankranti has special significance- this day onwards the sun starts its ascendancy and enters into the northern hemisphere.
On this day, the sun moves from tropic of Sagittarius to tropic of Capricorn. It is believed that the days get longer and nights shorter from today itself.
According to ‘Bhabisya Puran’ and ‘Dharma Sindhu’, religious texts, devotees will get special blessings and will have robust body if they observe the festival as per the rituals, said theologian and Chairperson of Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Prof Dr Ram Chandra Gautam.
The Newar community observes the festival by taking ghee, chaku and remembering the departed souls. This festival is called as ‘Ghyo Chaku Sallnhu’. The seniors apply mild-hot edible oil to heads of juniors on this day.
A large number of devotees throng Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat and Kankai in Nepal and Prayag and Gangasagar in India to take a holy bath and perform Shraddha.
The festival has significance in view of Ayurveda and medical science as well. Food items that are taken on this day are the sources of balance diet which increases the immunity power of the human body. On this day, a festival is organized at the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple at Taumadhi Tole, Bhaktapur and puja of Deepakankar Buddha is performed.
The Tharu community observes this festival as the Maghi with much fanfare and gaiety for five consecutive days. Likewise, the people in the Tarai districts mark this day as the festival of bath known as Nahan.
President, PM greets on Maghe Sankranti, Maghi
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has extended her best wishes on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti and Maghi.
In a message released by the Office of the President, the President stated the festival fosters friendship, harmony and tolerance among the citizens of various communities and ethnicities residing in the mountain, hill and Terai regions.
Maghe Sankranti is observed on the first day of the Nepali month of Magh. Different communities observe it in different ways as per their tradition.
Similarly, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has wished for the health, longevity, happiness, peace and prosperity of all Nepalis inside and outside the country on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti and Maghi.
In his greeting message, Prime Minister Oli noted the scientific aspects of the festival, helping keep the body warm and healthy in the winter.
Maghi is the biggest festival of the Tharu community who celebrate it as the New Year. “There is a strong unity among the different ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious groups of the country. The variety of festivals celebrated in our country is our asset,” Oli said in the message. “We must make use of this unity in diversity and tolerance for building our nation.”
He said that the nation was engaged in protecting Nepal’s cultural diversity through legal and constitutional arrangements.
