Maghi
| Maghi | |
|---|---|
Hindu devotees pray to Surya | |
| Observed by | Hindus and Sikhs of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu |
| Type | Religious and cultural |
| Significance | Midwinter festival, celebration of winter solstice |
| Celebrations | Ritual bathing, Madraison Puja, Masant, eating traditional food |
| Date | 14 January |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Makar Sankranti, Lohri |
Maghi is the regional name of Makar Sankranti, the Indian harvest festival celebrated on winter solstice. Maghi falls on the first day of the month of Magh and is celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh. It follows on the heels of the mid-winter festival of Lohri which is marked by bonfires in North Indian fields and yards. The next morning is seen as an auspicious occasion for ritual bathing in ponds and rivers.
In Himachal Pradesh, the festival is also known as Maghi Saaji or Magha Ra Saza. It is known as Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain (Uttarayana) in Jammu and Sakrat in Haryana.