Maghe Sankranti being observed across the country/ President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and National Assembly Chair give best wishes

January 15, Kathmandu: Maghe Sankranti or Makar Sankranti is being celebrated throughout the country on Sunday.

It is being observed by taking holy dips in rivers and ponds, worshiping at various temples and savouring delicacies like ghee, yam, khichadi and sweets like Chaku and sweets made of sesame .

As per astrological chart, the Makar Sankranti has special significance as this day onwards the sun starts its ascendancy and enters into the northern hemisphere.

On this day, the sun moves from tropic of Sagittarius to tropic of Capricorn.

It is believed that the days get longer and nights shorter from the day itself.

According to ‘Bhabisya Puran’ and ‘Dharma Sindhu’, religious texts, devotees will get special blessings and will have robust body if they observe the festival as per the rituals.

The Newar community observes the festival by taking ghee, chaku and remembering the departed souls.

A large number of devotees throng Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat and Kankai in Nepal and Prayag and Gangasagar in India to take a holy bath and perform Shraddha.

On this day, a festival is organized at the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple at Taumadhi Tole, Bhaktapur and puja of Deepakankar Buddha is performed. The Tharu community observes this festival as the Maghi with much fanfare and gaiety for five consecutive days.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has asserted that the Nepalifestivals have significantly contributed in interlinking cultural and ethnic diversity , building a common Nepali identity.

Extending her best wishes on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti, President Bhandari expressed her confidence that this festival would contribute in conserving nature and cultures as well as building a civilized, well-cultured and equitable society.

Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun has expressed his confidence that the federal and provincial government will deliver on good-governance and quality public services.

Vice President Pun said this in a message of best wishes on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti.

Vice President Pun expressed his hope that the federal and provincial governments would work rapidly for the security of the people, construction of physical infrastructures and prosperity of the country. He stressed on the need for the federal and provincial government formed in the wake of recently held parliamentary elections to work towards achieving rapid economic growth.

Prime Minister(PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has asserted that the government formed following the parliamentary elections has set social justice, good-governance and prosperity as its key targets.

In the message of best wishes on the Maghe Sankranti,PM Dahal assured that the incumbent government which had gained a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives was committed towards bringing about qualitative changes in the lives of people.

On the occasion of the Maghe Sankranti, Dahal appealed to all Nepalis to observe this festival acknowledging it as a historic opportunity to further strengthen national unity, goodwill and collaboration as well as to join efforts to achieve the targets of the government.

National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timalsina has asserted that festival like Maghe Sankranti has helped maintain mutual goodwill and fraternity.

On the occasion of Maghe Sankranti (today, NA Chair Timilsina said that festival like Maghe Sankranti had been playing an important role in maintaining national unity.