Top Places for Maghe Sankranti Celebrations in Nepal

Top Places for Maghe Sankranti Celebrations in Nepal

Notable locations in Nepal where Maghe Sankranti fairs Celebrated

Introduction of Makar Sankranti (Maghi) festival

Maghe Sankranti, also known as Makar Sankranti or Maghi, is a significant festival in Nepal that marks the sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). Celebrated on the first day of the Nepali month of Magh (around mid-January), it signifies the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer, warmer days. This page explores the notable Places for Maghe Sankranti Celebrations in Nepal.

This festival is observed with various rituals, including holy baths in rivers, worship ceremonies, and feasts featuring traditional foods like sesame seed laddus (Round sweet), Kheer (rice pudding), Sell Roti (sweet ring-shaped bread), and Yam or sweet potatoes. Different communities in Nepal, such as the Tharu and Magar, celebrate Maghi as their New Year, each with unique customs and traditions.

Various places in Nepal have organized ritual and cultural fairs (Mela in Nepali) during the Maghe Sankranti festivals. People gather at these fairs and enjoy the festival by participating in different rituals, arts, fun, and feast activities.

Here are some prominent locations in Nepal where Maghe Sankranti fairs and celebrations are organized.

Notable fairs held at sacred river bank of Nepal

Large fairs (Mela) are held on the banks or confluences of various religiously important rivers in Nepal during the Makar Sankranti or Maghi festival. These places have often been areas of famous religious importance since ancient times. Therefore, such fairs can also be called religious fairs, but in addition to spiritual activities, various sports, entertainment, and cultural programs are also organized in the fair.

Since the special importance of Makar Sankranti is also associated with the bathing of Makar and devotees gather in large numbers in the religious rivers of Nepal to bathe in Makar, such fairs have been held automatically from tradition. But in modern times, fair organizing committees have also been formed to pay attention to peace, security, and various arrangements for the fair.

Top Places for Maghe Sankranti Celebrations in Nepal
Image: Kankai Desk

Now, let’s look at the location details of the fairs held on the banks of religious holy rivers of Nepal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti:

1. Devghat Holy Bath Mela

Location: Devghat Pilgrimage site, Tanahu District, Nepal
Located at the confluence of the Trishuli and Kali Gandaki rivers, Devghat is a prominent pilgrimage site where thousands of devotees gather to take ritual baths, believing they purify the soul and wash away sins.

2. Dhunge Sanghu Mela

Location: Pokhara, Kaski District, Nepal

Held at Sita Ghat on the banks of the Seti River, this fair attracts Hindu pilgrims from Pokhara and neighboring districts. The festival serves as a marketplace for local produce, with a notable emphasis on iron utensils.

3. Ridi Bazaar Mela

Location: Tri-junction of Gulmi, Palpa and Syangja districts
Situated on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River, Ridi Bazaar hosts a significant fair during Maghe Sankranti. Pilgrims from various regions visit to bathe in the river and worship at the Rishikesh Temple, seeking blessings for prosperity and health.

4. Triveni Ghat (Panauti Makar Mela)

Location: Triveni Ghat, Panauti, Kabhrepalanchok Distict, Nepal
Panauti, a historic town 32 km southeast of Kathmandu, hosts the Makar Mela every 12 years during Maghe Sankranti. Pilgrims bathe at the confluence of the Punyamati, Roshi (also called Lilawati), and Rudrawati rivers and participate in various religious activities throughout the month-long festival.

5. Baraha Kshetra Mela (Fair)

Location: Barah Kshetra and Chatara Dham, Koshi river bank, Sunsari district

Baraha Kshetra is a revered site where the Koka and Koshi rivers meet. Devotees visit to take holy dips and worship Lord Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) incarnation, especially during Maghe Sankranti.

6. Kamalamai Mandir Mela

Location: Kamalamai municipality, Kamala river bank site, Sindhuli District, Nepal
In the Kamalamai municipality of Sindhuli district, the Kamalamai Temple becomes a focal point during Maghe Sankranti. Devotees offer unique sacrifices, including fish, to the goddess Kamalamai, seeking fulfillment of their wishes.

7. Dhunge Sanghu Mela (Pokhara)

Location: Seti river bank, Kaski District, Nepal

Celebrated annually on Maghe Sankranti at Sita Ghat on the bank of the Seti River in Pokhara, this fair attracts Hindu pilgrims from Pokhara and neighboring districts. The festival serves as a marketplace for local produce, especially iron utensils, and is believed to have been occurring since the Treta Yuga.

Top Places for Maghe Sankranti Celebrations in Nepal
Kankai mai mela” by Kankai Dham (Kotihom) is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

8. Kankai Mai Mela

Location: Kanakai and Satashidham Municipality, Kankai River, Jhapa district, Nepal

On this occasion, a grand gathering of about a million people celebrates Kankai Mai Mela (fair) at the Kankai River bank and the Kankai bridge of Mahendra highway in Jhapa District. This fair lasts three days near the Kankai dham (Kotihom) religious site. Kankai Mela has been traditionally occurring for many decades. Most devotees come from eastern Nepal and northeast India for Makar Snan (Sacred bathing) at the Kankai River and fun at the fair.

9. Triveni Dham Mela

Location: Binayi Tribeni Rural Municipality Nawalparasi District, Nepal

Situated at the confluence of three rivers, Triveni Dham is a sacred site where devotees gather to bathe and perform rituals during the festival. Triveni Dham is a confluence of three rivers (Triveni Sangam), Sona, Tamasa and Sapta Gandaki.  

10. Mai Beni Mela

Location: Ilam district, Nepal

Every year, on the first day of the month of Magh, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Mai Beni Mela is held for three days at the confluence of the Mai and Jogmai rivers in Ilam district. A large number of young people attend this fair to enjoy it. This fair is equally important from the point of view of religious and cultural traditions.

The Kirat ethnicity dominates the eastern hill districts of Nepal. They celebrate this Maghi festival as both a religious and annual festival. The Chosak Tangnam of this region—the Chisapani Mela—is held yearly in Chisapani in Ilam, where the Kirat people Rai, and Limbu communities celebrate it as a big festival.

11. Dolalghat Mela

Location: Kavrepalanchok District, Nepal

A popular spot where the Sun Koshi and Indravati rivers meet, Dolalghat attracts many for holy dips and festive celebrations during Maghe Sankranti.

12. Ugratara Mandir Mela

Location: Amargadhi Municipality, Dadeldhura district, Nepal

In the far western province of Nepal, there is a famous temple of the goddess, Ugratara Temple, in Dadeldhura District, where many devotees gather every year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Situated on the peak of a beautiful hill, Ugratara Temple is worshipped as Nepal’s most ancient and wish-fulfilling goddess. Devotees gather on this occasion and organize various religious rituals and cultural programs.

Apart from this, fairs are also held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti festival in many river banks and various religious areas and temples of Nepal. The details of all those areas could not included in this page yet. We will gradually add the details of the remaining areas in the coming days. We will also keep updating this section according to the suggestions of our readers.

Top Places for Maghe Sankranti Celebrations in Nepal
Image: Kankai Desk

Prominent Places Where Makar Sankranti Celebrations

In the previous section, we studied the religious river fairs in Nepal. But in Nepal, the Makar Sankranti festival is not limited to religious river fairs. That is, many people and ethnic communities in Nepal also celebrate this festival as an important festival.

For many ethnic communities in Nepal, this festival is celebrated as a new year or a major festival. In addition, many other Nepali people also celebrate this occasion as a farewell to the cold and foggy season and welcome the arrival of open and warm days. That is why people celebrate this festival by preparing sweet dishes in their homes and gathering with relatives and friends.

So let’s see other prominent places throughout Nepal where the Makar Sankranti festival is organized or celebrated as a special festival:

1. Tharu Community Celebrations in the Terai Region

  • Location: Various districts in the Terai, including Chitwan, Nawalpur, and Bara.
  • Details: The Tharu community celebrates with traditional dances, music, and feasting on local delicacies such as sesame seeds, molasses, and yam. Fairs often feature cultural performances, handicraft stalls, and games that highlight Tharu heritage.

2. Tundikhel Cultural Mela

  • Location: Center of Kathmandu city, Nepal
  • Details: A large open ground in the heart of Kathmandu, Tundikhel hosts vibrant Maghi celebrations, especially by the Tharu and Magar communities. Attendees enjoy traditional cuisines, cultural dances, and various stalls showcasing ethnic crafts.

3. Janakpur

  • Location: Dhanusa District
  • Details: Janakpur, a culturally rich city, hosts vibrant fairs during Maghi. The festivities typically include processions, traditional music, and folk dances. Many devotees visit the Janaki Mandir, and food stalls offering special dishes attract large crowds.

4. Biratnagar

  • Location: Morang District
  • Details: In Biratnagar, the celebration of Maghi is marked with fairs that feature local crafts, performances, and culinary delights. People engage in community gatherings, share traditional foods, and participate in sports and cultural events.

5. Nepalgunj

  • Location: Banke District
  • Details: Nepalgunj hosts a lively Maghi festival with a blend of cultural programs and agricultural fairs. Farmers showcase their produce, traditional songs and dances are performed, and local cuisine plays a central role in the celebrations.

6. Kathmandu Valley

  • Location: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan
  • Details: While the celebrations are more subdued compared to the Terai, Kathmandu’s various neighborhoods celebrate with communal feasts and gatherings. Special fairs focus on local delicacies, and cultural performances can be enjoyed in places like Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

7. Pokhara

  • Location: Kaski District
  • Details: In Pokhara, the Maghi festival sees a mix of traditional festivities and tourism. Locals participate in fairs featuring craft exhibitions, traditional music, and food stalls that serve seasonal dishes. The scenic backdrop of the lakes adds to the festive atmosphere.

8. Dang District

  • Location: Dang Valley
  • Details: The Dang district hosts a major fair during Maghi, showcasing local crafts, cultural programs, and traditional foods. The community comes together for dances and music, celebrating their rich cultural heritage with enthusiasm.

Summary

Makar Sankranti (Maghi) in Nepal is a festival that embodies rich cultural traditions and community spirit. Whether in the Terai or the hilly regions, locals partake in various celebrations that highlight their unique customs and culinary delights. If you get a chance to visit any of these places during the festival, you’ll experience the warmth and joy that Maghi brings to the communities celebrating it.

in Addition, These fairs and celebrations provide a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of Nepal, highlighting the diverse ways in which Maghe Sankranti is observed across the country.

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