Maghe Sankranti, January 15, Nepal

Maghe Sankranti is the first day of the month of Magh. A calendar system based on the movement of the sun into different zodiac signs. The  calendar system used by most western countries is that of the Gregorian system and do not align with the Nepalese system. For the group of peoples known as the Tharu it is also the first day of the new year.

This is the time of the ending of winter and inauspicious time. Holly(I think the author may have meant holy but hard to tell from the writing) baths are taken. This is typically done where three rivers converge. Foods, such as brown sesame seed fudge (Till ko laddu), molasses (Chakku), clarified butter (Ghee), Tilauri as well as spinach and yam curry. The Tharu people will also eat pigs, boars, ducks and hens.

As this is a time to look towards the sun being around more and the weather warming, it is a festival of the Sun.

As this is the new year of the Tharu people they elect new leaders to govern for the following year. These include a Bhalmansa, who will serve as the judge and leader of the community; a Guruwa, who carries out the punishment when people do not follow the orders of the Bhalmansa as well as acting as medic and chief priest of the village and a Chiragi who might be compared to a police person.

Links: http://www.weallnepali.com/nepali-festivals/maghe-sankranti