KATHMANDU, Jan 14: Today, the Tharu community as well as other communities are celebrating the Maghe Sankranti festival all over the country. The first day of Magh is called Maghe or Makar Sankranti as the sun transitions from the Sagittarius zodiac sign to Capricorn.
The day marks the beginning of Uttarayan, during which nights become shorter and days longer. Bathing, meditation, charity, and other spiritual activities on this day are believed to be highly meritorious.
Kumal community to mark Maghe Sankranti festival in Golaghat
Terai people celebrated Maghe Sankranti as a festival of bathing. Terai residents considered it mandatory to take a ritual bath on this day.
Visiting sacred sites early in the morning for a holy dip and offering sesame seeds as charity is believed to bestow the same merit as donating gold.
Here are some photos of Maghe Sankranti celebrations in Kathmandu taken by Republica’s Photojournalist Dipesh Darshandhari:
