Devotees flock to Godavari for Makar fair on Maghi Sankranti

Dhangadhi: The auspicious occasion of Magh 1st, also known as Maghi Sankranti, is being celebrated with fervor across the region. Marking the Sun's transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn and the beginning of Uttarayan, the day holds significant religious and cultural importance.

On Maghi Sankranti, devotees traditionally bathe in holy rivers and at Triveni, chant, perform penance, meditate, and donate. They also enjoy traditional foods like ghee, chaku, yam, and khichdi, which are believed to provide warmth in winter and help balance the body's three doshas. A custom of boiling yam on Poush Masant and consuming it on Magh 1st is widely observed. With the start of Uttarayan, days and nights become shorter, and the period is considered auspicious for performing rituals and ceremonies.

At Godavari Dham in Kailali, the Makar Fair, organized by the Godavari Dham Development Committee, drew a large crowd of devotees who gathered for ritual bathing early in the morning. Godavari Municipality has facilitated the fair by providing free bus services from locations such as Attariya, Malakheti, Syaule, and Geta. Mayor Birendra Bhatta confirmed the deployment of five buses to ensure ease of transportation for participants.

Meanwhile, the Tharu community is celebrating Maghi, their traditional New Year, with great enthusiasm. The festival, which spans five days, involves bathing, donating, feasting, and merrymaking. On the eve of Maghi, people stayed awake all night to bid farewell to the old year, ushering in the New Year with joy on the morning of Magh 1st. The festival is celebrated with grandeur across the Terai region, reflecting the vibrant culture of the Tharu community.