Maghe Sankranti
माघे संक्रान्ति
Also known as: Makar Sankranti, Ghiu Chaku Sankranti
Marks the sun's entry into Capricorn (Makar) - the winter solstice (astronomical). The most important bathing festival in the Hindu Terai; pilgrims gather at river confluences (triveni) across Nepal.
When
January 14–15
Gregorian (approximate — lunar dates shift yearly)
Nepali month
Poush / Magh
Bikram Sambat calendar
Duration
1 day
Tourist appeal
Medium
Hindu · Nationwide
Maghe Sankranti falls on Gregorian January 14 (or 15 in leap years) every year - one of the few festivals fixed to the solar calendar. The faithful bathe in holy rivers at dawn; the Devghat triveni (confluence of Trishuli and Narayani rivers) draws hundreds of thousands. Traditional foods rich in sesame (til) and jaggery (chaku) symbolise warmth in winter.
Traditions & rituals
Sacred bath in holy rivers at sunrise (devghat, Triveni, Sapta Gandaki)
Eating ghiu (clarified butter), chaku (hard molasses), tarul (yam), sweet potato
Tharu community celebrations in the Terai (Maghi New Year)
What people eat during Maghe Sankranti
When does Maghe Sankranti fall this year?
Maghe Sankranti is observed in the Nepali months of Poush / Magh, which corresponds to roughly January 14–15 in the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so the precise day moves each year. Use our converter to map any Bikram Sambat date to the Gregorian calendar.
Nepali date converter (BS ⇄ AD) →Maghe Sankranti, answered
Common questions about the date, duration and meaning of Maghe Sankranti.
When is Maghe Sankranti celebrated?+
Maghe Sankranti falls in January 14–15 — the Nepali months of Poush / Magh in the Bikram Sambat calendar. Because most Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian dates shift slightly each year.
How long does Maghe Sankranti last?+
Maghe Sankranti lasts 1 day.
What is the significance of Maghe Sankranti?+
Marks the sun's entry into Capricorn (Makar) - the winter solstice (astronomical). The most important bathing festival in the Hindu Terai; pilgrims gather at river confluences (triveni) across Nepal.
Who celebrates Maghe Sankranti and where?+
Maghe Sankranti is primarily a Hindu festival, celebrated across Nepal.
What food is eaten during Maghe Sankranti?+
Traditional Maghe Sankranti foods include Ghiu-chaku (butter and molasses), Tarul (yam), Sweet potato, Til-ko-laddu (sesame ball).
Other festivals of Nepal
Sources & data note
Festival dates follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar and shift each Gregorian year; the approximate Gregorian months reflect the typical recent range. Cultural details on Maghe Sankranti are sourced from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.