Kathmandu: Maghe Sankranti, also known as Makar Sankranti, is being observed across the country today.

The festival is marked by ritual baths in rivers and ponds, worship at temples, and the consumption of traditional foods such as ghee, yam, khichadi, prepared by cooking rice and lentils together and sweets including chaku (jaggery) and items made from sesame and molasses.

Astrologically, Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun’s northward journey, as it moves from Sagittarius to Capricorn, symbolizing longer days and shorter nights. Religious texts such as the Bhabisya Puran and Dharma Sindhu state that devotees who observe the festival according to prescribed rituals are believed to receive special blessings and good health.

The Newar community observes the day as Ghyo Chaku Sallnhu, during which ghee and chaku are consumed in remembrance of departed souls. As part of the tradition, elders apply mildly warm edible oil to the heads of younger family members.

Large numbers of devotees gather at sacred sites including Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat, and Kankai in Nepal, as well as Prayag and Gangasagar in India, to take holy baths and perform Shraddha rites.

The festival also holds significance in Ayurveda and medical science, as the traditional foods consumed on the day are considered a balanced diet that helps boost immunity.

In Bhaktapur’s Taumadhi Tole, special celebrations are underway at the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple, where a puja of Deepankar Buddha is being performed.

Among the Tharu community, the festival is celebrated as Maghi with great enthusiasm over five days. In the Tarai districts, the occasion is also marked by the ritual bathing festival known as Nahan.