->Malikhpur at 12:13, 9 November 2021

2021-11-09T12:13:09Z

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{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Maghi
| image =
| type = Hindu, Sikh
|observedby = Hindus and Sikhs of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh
|longtype = Religious and Cultural
| begins = 1st [[Magha (Hindu calendar)|Magh]] [[Sankranti|Sangrand]] [[Hindu calendar]]
| date2017 = Saturday, 14 January
| date2018 = Sunday, 14 January
| date2019 = Monday, 14 January
| celebrations = Ritual bathing, Madraison Puja, Masant, Eating traditional food
|relatedto = [[Makar Sankranti]]
| frequency = Annual
|significance = Midwinter festival, celebration of [[Winter Solstice]]
|alt=|official_name=|nickname=|litcolor=|ends=|date=|weekday=|month=|scheduling=|duration=|firsttime=|startedby=}}

'''Maghi''' is the regional name of the [[Hindus|Hindu]] festival of [[Makar Sankranti]] celebrated in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]].In [[Himachal Pradesh|Himachal]], the festival is also known as ''Maghi Saaji''<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Sharma|first1=Dheeraj|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnuGDwAAQBAJ&q=%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%98%E0%A5%80+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80&pg=PA28|title=PIB Summary 2018 Exams Exclusive|last2=Exclusive|first2=Exams|date=2019-01-28|publisher=DHEERAJ SHARMA|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jtm1AAAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%98%E0%A5%80+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80|title=Somasī|date=1991|publisher=Himācala Kalā-Samskr̥ti-Bhāshā Akādamī.|language=hi}}</ref> or ''Magha Ra Saza''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Manoj|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a2BgDwAAQBAJ&q=Maghi+Makar+Sankranti&pg=PT111|title=Vaidik Sanatan Hindutva|date=2018-01-01|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|isbn=978-93-5266-687-4|language=hi}}</ref> In Bihar and Nepal it is also referred to as ''Maghi Parva'' or ''Maghi Sankranti''.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Chopra|first1=Kanchan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EwjsAAAAMAAJ&q=Maghi+Sankranti|title=Ecological Economics for Sustainable Development|last2=Perrings|first2=Charles|date=2001|publisher=Academic Foundation|isbn=978-81-7188-193-2|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Pandey|first=Ram Niwas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWAMAQAAMAAJ&q=Maghi+|title=Nepal, Through the Ages: Approach to Ancient History, Art, Architecture, Culture & Society|date=2008|publisher=Adroit Publishers|isbn=978-81-87392-79-8|language=en}}</ref> Maghi is celebrated on first day of the month of [[Magha (month)|Magh]] of [[Hindu calendar|Hindu Calendar]]. 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 Hindus see as an auspicious occasion for ritual bathing in ponds and rivers.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Melton|first1=J. Gordon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v2yiyLLOj88C&pg=PA1769|title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes]|last2=Baumann|first2=Martin|date=2010-09-21|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-204-3|language=en}}</ref>

==In Hinduism==
[[File:Hindu Devotees Pray To Surya - Makar Sankranti Observance - Baje Kadamtala Ghat - Kolkata 2018-01-14 6877.JPG|thumb|Devotees Pray To Sun]]
[[Makar Sankranti]] (or [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]]) is celebrated in other parts of Indian subcontinent by Hindus,<ref name="autogenerated22">[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1O0eAQAAMAAJ&dq=maghi+punjab+bathing+rivers&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=ganges Census of India, 1961: Punjab. Managher of Publications]</ref> and is always on the first day of the month of [[Magha (month)|Magha]] in [[Bikrami calendar]]. On Maghi, when the sun takes its northern journey on entering the sign of Makara or Capricorn, the Hindus take bath in the Ganges or if that is not possible, in some other river, rivulet, canal or pond.<ref name="autogenerated22" /> It follows the festival of [[Lohri]] in north India, particularly popular in the [[Punjab region]].

===Himachal Pradesh===

Maghi is popularly referred to as Magha Ra Saza in some parts of Himachal Pradesh. As Magh is the coldest month in the hills when agriculture comes to stand still, this month is dedicated to worship of [[Agni|Agni Devta]]. In villages of Himachal, Lohri night is part of Maghi celebrations and is referred to as ''Masant.'' Another ritual associated with Maghi is ''Madraison Puja'' when the houses are cleaned and decorated.<ref name="Thakur 1997">{{Cite book|last=Thakur|first=Molu Ram|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JH-gI4ncuZ4C&q=Maghi+himachal&pg=PA167|title=Myths, Rituals, and Beliefs in Himachal Pradesh|date=1997|publisher=Indus Publishing|isbn=978-81-7387-071-2|language=en}}</ref>

==In Sikhism==

For Sikhs it is a community gathering to commemorate martyrdom of forty Sikhs (''Chalis Mukte)'' who once had deserted the tenth and last human Guru of [[Sikhism]], [[Guru Gobind Singh]] at Anandpur Sahib, but later rejoined the Guru and died while fighting the [[Mughal Empire]] army led by Wazir Khan in 1705.<ref name="melton17692">{{cite book|author1=J. Gordon Melton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v2yiyLLOj88C&pg=PA1769|title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition|author2=Martin Baumann|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|isbn=978-1-59884-204-3|page=1769}}</ref> Sikhs make a pilgrimage to the site of the war, and take a dip in the sacred water tanks of Muktsar.<ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/devotees-take-holy-dip-115011400698_1.html Business Standard 14 January 2015]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Dh6jydKXikoC&pg=PA695&dq=muktsar+battle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjboL63h8LRAhVGnBoKHSorB-4Q6AEIHzAB#v=onepage&q=muktsar%20battle&f=false] Tony Jaques (2007) Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: F-O. Greenwood Publishing Co.</ref>

A fair (''mela'') is held at Muktsar Sahib every year and called the [[Mela Maghi]] is held in memory of the forty Sikh martyrs.<ref>{{cite book|author=Fenech, E. Louis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism|author2=Mcleod, H. W.|date=11 June 2014|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-4422-3601-1|page=65}}</ref> Before this tradition started to commemorate the Sikh martyrs who gave their lives to protect the tenth Guru, the festival was observed and mentioned by [[Guru Amar Das]], the third Guru of Sikhism.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jawandha|first=Major Nahar Singh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DQeKTUXphPMC&q=guru+amar+das+maghi&pg=PA29|title=Glimpses of Sikhism|date=1 January 2010|publisher=Sanbun Publishers|isbn=9789380213255|access-date=14 September 2016|via=Google Books}}</ref>

==Cultural celebration==
In Punjab, Maghi is celebrated by people eating [[kheer]] such as Rauh di kheer which is an old dish where rice is cooked in sugarcane juice. The dish is prepared in the evening before Maghi and is kept to cool. It is served cold next morning on Maghi with red-chili mixed curd.<ref>'Rauh di kheer’ is the people’s favourite. The Tribune. (14.01.2017 )accessed 15.01.2017 [http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/-rauh-di-kheer-is-the-people-s-favourite/350132.html]</ref> In some parts of [[Punjab, India]], it is also traditional practice to eat [[Khichdi]] mixed with lentils, consume raw sugarcane and [[jaggery]],<ref name="Thakur 1997"/><ref name="autogenerated12">Sundar mundarye ho by Assa Singh Ghuman Waris Shah Foundation ISBN B1-7856-043-7</ref> Fairs are held at many places in Punjab on Maghi.<ref>Sekhon, Iqbal S. The Punjabis. 2. Religion, society and culture of the Punjabis. Cosmos (2000) [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bU0wAQAAIAAJ&q=maghi+makar+sankranti+punjab&dq=maghi+makar+sankranti+punjab&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqzKzu9rjTAhVSKlAKHYKQCFU4ChDoAQghMAA]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Makar Sankranti]]
* [[Sankranti]]
*[[Thai Pongal]]
* [[Winter Solstice]]
* [[Lohri]]
* [[Maghe Sankranti]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Punjab, India}}
{{Punjabi fairs and festivals}}

[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Folk festivals in India]]
[[Category:Sikh festivals]]
[[Category:Punjabi culture|Festivals]]
[[Category:Punjabi festivals| ]]
[[Category:Harvest festivals]]
[[Category:Winter festivals]]

Maghi - Revision history

->Malikhpur at 12:13, 9 November 2021