What is Maghe Sankranti?

Maghe Sankranti (माघे संक्रान्ति) is a major Hindu festival in Nepal observed on 1 Magh, the tenth month of the Bikram Sambat calendar. It marks the sun's transition into Capricorn (Makara), and in the Gregorian calendar it typically falls on 14 or 15 January.

Religious significance

According to Hindu belief, the sun moves from the southern hemisphere to the northern on this day — a shift called Uttarayan. It signals the end of the inauspicious period (Dakshinayan) and the beginning of a spiritually auspicious time. Sacred rivers, especially the Triveni at Devghat near Chitwan, draw thousands of pilgrims who take ritual baths at dawn.

Traditional foods

Specific foods are mandatory on Maghe Sankranti because they are believed to generate body warmth in winter:

Til ko laddu (sesame seed balls) — sesame generates heat
Chaku (hardened molasses candy) — a Newar delicacy
Sweet potato and taro — boiled and eaten with ghee
Ghee — pure clarified butter, considered deeply nourishing

Exact dates

Maghe Sankranti 2082 BS — 15 January 2026 AD
Maghe Sankranti 2083 BS — 15 January 2027 AD

Public holiday status

Maghe Sankranti is a gazetted public holiday in Nepal. Government offices, banks and most private businesses are closed. The holiday is especially significant in the Terai where the festival overlaps with Makar Mela fairs.