In Pictures: Maghe Sankranti Celebrations

Nepalis across the country celebrated Maghe Sankranti, also known as Makar Sankranti, with fervour on Thursday, January 15.

Observed on the first day of the Nepali month of Magh, the festival marks the sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makara).

Devotees marked the occasion by taking ritual baths in rivers and ponds, visiting temples, and sharing traditional foods such as yam, khichadi, chaku, and sweets made from molasses and sesame seeds.

The festival is known by different names among Nepal’s diverse communities. The Newa community observes it as Ghyo Chaku Sanhhu, while the Tharu and Magar communities celebrate Maghi. In the Tarai, it is widely known as Nahan, highlighting the tradition of holy bathing.

Major pilgrimage sites, including Devghat, Baraha Chhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat, and Kankai, drew large crowds of devotees. Sacred sites in India, such as Prayag and Gangasagar, also witnessed an influx of pilgrims performing ritual baths and ancestral rites.

In Bhaktapur, devotees gathered at the Til Madhav Narayan Temple in Taumadhi Tole, where the Deepakankar Buddha was worshipped amid vibrant celebrations.

The government grants a public holiday for the festival, which brings together Nepal’s many communities while reflecting their distinct cultural traditions.

In Kathmandu, people from various ethnic groups assembled at Tundikhel in traditional attire, celebrating the festival and showcasing their cultural identity and customs.

Here are moments from the Kathmandu celebrations, captured by New Business Age photojournalist Sunil Sharma.