Magar community celebrates 'Maghe Sakaraati' (photos)

Kathmandu, January 14 — The Magar community celebrated the Maghe Sankranti festival on Tuesday under the name of 'Maghe Sakaraati'.

Maghe Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn, and it is considered a significant event on the first day of Magh.

On this occasion, a procession with traditional songs and dances was organized in Kathmandu.

As today marks the beginning of Uttarayan (marks the Sun's northward transit, signifying the end of winter), the days will gradually become longer than the nights.

It is believed that activities like bathing, chanting, meditation, and donations on Uttarayan day are particularly auspicious.

Devotees gather at sacred sites such as Devghat, Trishuli, Kaligandaki, Bagmati, Indrawati, Triveni, and Ridi to perform Maghi Snan (ritual bathing), and special fairs are also held at these places.

Eating ghee, chaku (thick, dark syrup made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts), sesame dishes, tarul (yam), spinach, and khichadi (porridge) is a traditional practice on Maghe Sankranti.

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