KATHMANDU: Today, Maghe Sankranti, also referred to as Makar Sankranti, is being celebrated nationwide.

The observance involves activities such as taking sacred dips in rivers and ponds, offering prayers at temples, and indulging in traditional delicacies like ghee, yam, khichadi, and sweets including Chaku and those made with sesame and molasses.

Astrologically, Makar Sankranti holds special significance, marking the day when the sun begins its ascendancy and enters the northern hemisphere.

On this day, the sun moves from the tropic of Sagittarius to the tropic of Capricorn, symbolizing the arrival of longer days and shorter nights.

According to the ‘Bhabisya Puran’ and ‘Dharma Sindhu,’ religious texts, devotees who observe the festival following the prescribed rituals are believed to receive special blessings and enjoy a robust health.

The Newar community celebrates the festival as ‘Ghyo Chaku Sallnhu,’ where they consume ghee and chaku while remembering the departed souls.

On this day, seniors apply mildly warm edible oil to the heads of juniors as part of the tradition.

A large number of devotees gather at sacred sites such as Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat, and Kankai in Nepal, as well as Prayag and Gangasagar in India, to take holy baths and perform Shraddha rites.

The festival also holds significance in Ayurveda and medical science. The foods consumed on this day are considered a balanced diet that enhances the body’s immunity.

At the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple in Taumadhi Tole, Bhaktapur, a special festival is organized, and a puja of Deepakankar Buddha is performed.

For the Tharu community, the festival is known as ‘Maghi,’ and it is celebrated with much fanfare over five consecutive days.

In the Tarai districts, the day is also marked by the festival of bath, known as Nahan.