Maghe Sankranti 2027: Dates (Jan 15) and Fares

Name: Maghe Sankranti 2027
Start: 2027-01-15
End: 2027-01-15
Location: Pashupatinath, Kathmandu

When is Maghe Sankranti 2027?

Maghe Sankranti 2027 runs on Friday, January 15, 2027.

2027Friday, January 15, 2027Confirmed

How the dates are set: First day of the Nepali month of Magh, normally January 14.

See every event in January 2027

Source: bestheritagetour.com

Maghe Sankranti schedule

Every year on the first day of Magh: Maghe Sankranti falls on the first day of Magh in the Vikram Sambat calendar, generally January 14.
Festival day: Pilgrims gather at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu for ritual bathing and prayers in the Bagmati River.
Festival day: Among the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley the day is Ghyo Chaku Sanhlu, named for ghee and molasses. Mothers apply warm oil to their children's heads, a ritual believed to ensure health and long life.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, regulusnepal.com, bestheritagetour.com

History of Maghe Sankranti

Maghe Sankranti marks the sun's move into Capricorn (Makara) and the start of Uttarayan, its northward journey, which brings longer and warmer days. In legend, the river Ganga came down to Earth on this day through King Bhagiratha's penance. The Mahabharata says Bhishma Pitamah chose this day to leave his mortal body.

Source: himalayanrecreation.com

Maghe Sankranti: questions people ask

Is Maghe Sankranti on January 14 or 15?

Maghe Sankranti falls on the first day of Magh in the Vikram Sambat calendar, generally January 14. It follows the solar cycle, so it keeps a fixed date for the Madhesi, Magar and Tharu communities, unlike festivals set by the moon.

What do people eat on Maghe Sankranti in Nepal?

In the Terai, families make til laddoos, sweet balls of sesame and jaggery. Newars in the hills eat clarified butter (ghee) and molasses (chaku), foods considered warming for winter.

Who celebrates Maghe Sankranti in Nepal?

It is observed across Nepal. The Tharu people celebrate it as the start of their new year, and it is a major government-declared annual festival of the Magar community.

Where else in Nepal can you see Maghe Sankranti besides Pashupatinath?

Devghat in Chitwan, where the Trishuli and Kali Gandaki rivers meet, is another major site. Thousands of devotees take a holy dip (Makar Snan) there.

What does Maghe Sankranti mark?

It marks the sun's northward journey (Uttarayan) and the end of the harshest winter. It is celebrated as the start of a new harvest season.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, himalayanrecreation.com, bestheritagetour.com

About Maghe Sankranti

A cold river dawn where sesame sweets mark the sun's slow turn.

Maghe Sankranti is Nepal's midwinter festival, celebrated as the sun begins its journey north, with pilgrims bathing at the Bagmati river by Pashupatinath temple before dawn. Families eat til ko laddu, sesame and molasses sweets, and root vegetables believed to warm the body through the rest of winter. The bathing and temple crowds are heaviest in the early morning of January 14 or 15 depending on the year's calendar.

Know before you go

Mornings are near freezing so plan for a very early, cold start if attending the river bathing.
Non Hindus can view the ghats and temple exterior but entry into the main shrine is restricted.
Kathmandu's Tribhuvan airport is about 15 minutes by road from Pashupatinath.

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