Maghe Sankranti 2026: Date, Meaning & Where to See It
The first day of Magh, marking the sun's turn north: holy bathing at river confluences, and the new year of the Tharu (Maghi).
- Next
- Usually in January
- Also called
- Maghi
- Usual month
- January
- Earlier years
- 15 January 2026 · 14 January 2025 · 15 January 2024 · 15 January 2023 · 15 January 2022
Pilgrims bathe at Devghat, where the Kali Gandaki meets the Trishuli, and at confluences across the country, then eat sesame laddoos, chaku, ghee and sweet potatoes to warm the body.
In the western Terai, Tharu communities celebrate Maghi with dances and feasts — a great time to visit homestays around Bardiya and Dang.
Where to see it
Quick answers
- When is Maghe Sankranti in 2026?
- Usually in January. The exact date for the next one is not published yet.
- What is Maghe Sankranti?
- The first day of Magh, marking the sun's turn north: holy bathing at river confluences, and the new year of the Tharu (Maghi).
- Where is the best place to see Maghe Sankranti?
- Devghat.
Other festivals
DashainTihar (Deepawali)ChhathHoliMaha ShivaratriLosar (Tibetan, Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung New Year)Nepali New Year and Bisket JatraBuddha JayantiTeejJanai PurnimaKrishna JanmashtamiGai JatraIndra JatraUbhauli and UdhauliMani RimduTiji FestivalVivaha Panchami
Calculate the cost for your group →Dates from the public Holidays in Nepal calendar (Google Calendar), checked daily. Local festivals not in that calendar show their usual month; lunar dates can shift by a day locally.