DigiNepal · festivals
Maghe Sankranti and Makar Sankranti (माघे संक्रान्ति (Nepali), मकर संक्रांति (Hindi), Maghi (Tharu)). Region: Nepal, India. Tradition: Hindu; Tharu and Magar new year. Calendar: Solar (sun enters sidereal Capricorn). Dates: Nepal (1 Magh) 2026: Thursday 15 January 2026 (BS 2082 Magh 1; वि.सं. २०८२ १) [official, source NP]; Nepal (1 Magh) 2027: Friday 15 January 2027 (BS 2083 Magh 1; वि.सं. २०८३ १) [official, source NP]; Nepal (1 Magh) 2028: Saturday 15 January 2028 (BS 2084 Magh 2; वि.सं. २०८४ २) [official, source NP]; India (Makar Sankranti) 2026: Wednesday 14 January 2026 (BS 2082 Poush 30; वि.सं. २०८२ ३०) [computed]; India (Makar Sankranti) 2027: Friday 15 January 2027 (BS 2083 Magh 1; वि.सं. २०८३ १) [computed]; India (Makar Sankranti) 2028: Saturday 15 January 2028 (BS 2084 Magh 2; वि.सं. २०८४ २) [computed]. History and significance: Maghe or Makar Sankranti marks the sun's entry into Capricorn and the end of the coldest month, and it is one of the few Hindu festivals fixed by the solar calendar. In Nepal people take holy dips at river confluences such as Devghat and Triveni and families eat warming winter foods. For the Tharu it is Maghi, their new year, and for the Magar community it is also a major celebration. In India the same day is Makar Sankranti, Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Uttarayan kite flying in Gujarat; dates can differ by a day between Nepal and India because Nepal's almanac fixes the sankranti differently. Key rituals and foods: Holy dips, sesame and molasses offerings, kites in Gujarat; foods include til laddu, chaku (molasses), ghee, yam, sweet potato and khichdi. Date basis: official = matches a government gazetted holiday list; computed = calculated from the calendar system (tithi astronomy with skyfield and JPL DE421, Hijri Umm al-Qura, Chinese, Korean and Hebrew calendar libraries, or the fixed rule); expected = Umm al-Qura projection pending moon sighting. Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata (CC BY-SA, CC0) and government holiday lists, summarised in our own words.