Maghe Sankranti festival, माघे संक्रान्ति पर्व, नेपालका थारु समुदायले माघी पर्व मनाउँछन्

 

Maghe Sankranti festival is one of the major festivals celebrated in the month of Magh (According to Bikram Sambat calendar or about 14th January). The festival is also known as Makar Sankranti as well. It is celebrated in Nepal as the beginning of the auspicious month of Magh. The festival is considered to be the beginning of warmer days in comparison to the cold month of Poush (December). It is believed that from this day the sun starts to move toward Northern hemisphere. It is a solstice festival celebrated in Nepal.

Hindu followers take holy bath during this festival in the auspicious and religious rivers in Nepal. Some of the major holy river locations of Nepal are Shankamul on the Bagmati River, Gandaki/Narayani River in the Triveni, Devghat in Chitwan, Ridi on Kaligandaki, and in the Koshi River basin at Dolalghat on the Sunkoshi. People worship Lord Vishnu and organize Pujas, and read Hindu holy epic Bhagwad Gita.

Families get together in the first of Magh and eat meals together. They do share Til Laddoo, Ghee, Sweet potatoes during this festive occasion. The priest wishes good health and a better future for all family members. The Brahmins and Chhetris community of Nepal celebrate the month of Magh by inviting their married daughters and closed relatives to their home and offer them special meals and best wishes.माघे संक्रान्ति पर्व माघ महिनामा मनाइने प्रमुख चाडहरू मध्ये एक हो (विक्रम संवत् पात्रो अनुसार वा लगभग १४ जनवरी)। यस पर्वलाई मकर संक्रान्ति पनि भनिन्छ । यसलाई नेपालमा माघ महिनाको शुभारम्भका रुपमा मनाइन्छ । पौष (डिसेम्बर) को जाडो महिनाको तुलनामा न्यानो दिनको शुरुवातका रूपमा यो पर्वलाई मानिन्छ। यस दिनबाट सूर्य उत्तरी गोलार्धतर्फ सर्ने विश्वास गरिन्छ। यो नेपालमा मनाइने संक्रांति पर्व हो। यस पर्वमा हिन्दू धर्मावलम्बीहरुले नेपालका विभिन्न धार्मिक नदीहरुमा स्नान गर्ने गर्दछन् । बागमती नदीमा रहेको शंकामुल, त्रिवेणीमा गण्डकी/नारायणी नदी, चितवनको देवघाट, कालीगण्डकीको रिडी र सुनकोशीको दोलालघाटमा कोशी नदी बेसिनमा रहेका नेपालका केही प्रमुख पवित्र नदी स्थानहरू छन्। मानिसहरूले भगवान विष्णुको पूजा गर्छन् र पूजाहरू आयोजना गर्छन्, र हिन्दू पवित्र महाकाव्य भगवद् गीता पढ्छन्। माघको पहिलो दिन परिवार जम्मा भएर खाना खान्छन् । तिल लड्डु, घिउ, मीठो आलु यस पर्वको अवसरमा बाँड्छन् । पुजारीले परिवारका सबै सदस्यहरूको राम्रो स्वास्थ्य र राम्रो भविष्यको कामना गर्दछ। नेपालका ब्राह्मण तथा क्षेत्री समुदायले आफ्ना विवाहित छोरी तथा आफन्तजनलाई घरमा बोलाएर विशेष भोजन र शुभकामना दिएर माघ महिना मनाउने गर्दछन् ।

Tharu communities of Nepal celebrate Maghi festival

The special ethnic community of Nepal, Tharu community, celebrate this festival with huge importance. They call the first of Magh as “Maaghi”. The first of Magh also consider as the beginning of Tharu New Year. Maaghi is also the Harvest festival of Tharus and people of Terai. They celebrate Maaghi as the joyful time after the heavy fieldwork. They prepare varieties of meals, beverages and meats and celebrate it by gathering their family members and community. The Maaghi is the weeklong festival of Tharus. During the festival, they perform their cultural dances, dress up in the traditional Tharu wear, eat and drink with their near ones.

नेपालका विशेष जाति, थारु समुदायले यो पर्वलाई ठूलो महत्वका साथ मनाउने गर्दछन् । माघको पहिलो 
दिनलाई माघी भन्छन् । माघको पहिलो दिनलाई थारु नयाँ वर्षको सुरुवात पनि मानिन्छ । माघी थारु र
 तराईका जनताको फसल काट्ने चाड पनि हो । उनीहरूले माघीलाई भारी फिल्डवर्क पछिको आनन्दको 
रूपमा मनाउँछन्। तिनीहरूले विभिन्न प्रकारका खाना, पेय पदार्थ र मासु तयार पार्छन् र परिवारका 
सदस्यहरू र समुदायलाई भेला गरेर यसलाई मनाउँछन्। माघी थारुहरुको साताव्यापी पर्व हो । चाडपर्वमा
 उनीहरुले आफ्नो सांस्कृतिक नाचगान, थारुको परम्परागत पहिरनमा सजाउने, आफन्तजनसँग खानपिन 
गर्ने गर्दछन् ।

The people from Magar community also celebrate Makar Sankranti with high importance. They invite their married daughters to home for the festivities and even worship. Some delicacies and sweet potatoes are eaten in this auspicious occasion.

मगर समुदायले पनि मकर संक्रान्तिलाई उच्च महत्वका साथ मनाउने गर्दछन् । 

तिनीहरूले आफ्ना विवाहित छोरीहरूलाई चाडपर्वको लागि घरमा बोलाउँछन् र पूजा पनि

गर्छन्। यस शुभ अवसरमा केही मिठो परिकार र मीठो आलु खाइन्छ। 

Bullfighting festival in Nuwakot

In Nuwakot, during the month of Magh, bullfighting festival is organized. Tamed bulls are prepared for fighting and many spectators participate to observe the popular festival of this region in Nuwakot. In this festival, no people are involved in the ground. This is only bull and bull fight. However, provocation out of the field can be seen.]

Maghe Sankranti festival is celebrated all over the country with great importance. The importance of this day is also described in Hindu epics like Mahabharata. In this day people worship Sun god, regarded as the symbol of divinity and wisdom. This festival holds a huge religious and historical significance in Nepal.

Maghe Sankranti – As the transition phase

Cited as the ‘holy phase of transition’ accompanied by some cultural and religious values, Makar Sankranti is highly revered in some parts, mainly plains, of Nepal. The major festival of Tharus, Maghi, also falls on the same date. It is also valued as the time of harvest when Tharu people finish all the fieldwork and get back to the normal lifestyle, celebrating the hard work and enjoy this festival along with some festivities. It also embarks the auspicious time when the severe cold get dragged down and onwards warmer days begin. In the Mountainous region of Nepal, Maghe Sankranti festival is celebrated with some delicacies and enjoyment accompanied by dances and folklores. Also, In the Terai region, Tharus and Madhesi communities celebrate it as the celebration after the harvest. 

In the occasion of Maghe Sankranti, devotees gather around the holy rivers and take bath there. The feasts with special meals such as Yam, Khichadi, Butter, Chaku etc. are prepared to share the joy and happiness around. The Newar community, inhabitants of Kathmandu valley, celebrate Makar Sankranti as Gheu Chaku Sallhu. The relishing delicacies make it more interesting and mind-blowing celebration in this community. 

Importance of Maghe Sankranti festival

The importance of Maghe Sankranti is basically a bond development among the family members and community. The joyous celebration in this particular day is highly venerated in Nepal. Some religious book also inscribes the importance of Maghe Sankranti as per the Hindu traditions. The greatest Mahabharata states that Bhisma Pitamaha, who has immense power and also got the blessings to have control over his own death, chose to die on this day. So, it is believed that those people who die on this day attain Moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. 

The Huge religious merits among the diverse ethnic communities celebrate the Maghe Sankranti in their own way. The delicacies differ from communities to communities. This also features the cultural attributes of Nepalese, encompassing the family bonds and joyous celebration.