JAN 16, 2012 KATHMANDU – “More festivals than days in a year”, The truth of Nepalese calendar is  celebrated daily as Nepal is known for its culture and tradition along with Mountains and difficult lifestyles.

Nepalese calendar is marked with a big festival every month, just soon as the month long Swasthani festival began, another festival “Maghe Sankranti” came along with it. Maghe Sankranti is one of the important festivals in the country, especially the Tharu community in Nepal and is a time of family reunion and celebration.

The festival is mostly marked by Nepali Hindus by taking ritual bath in confluence of rivers and offering worships in various temples, and eating special delicacies like chaku (hardened molasses), til ko laddu (sesame sweets) and tarul (yam).

The members of the Tharu community observe this festival as Maghi by organizing traditional dances, consuming various delicacies and displaying traditional costumes.

The festival has a belief that the previous month of Poush ( December/January) is the ill-omened month that forbids all religious ceremonies.

This day or the day of Maghe Sankranti is regarded as the coldest day of the year and marks the start of warmer season.

According to the religious facts and beliefs, the sun is believed to leave its southernmost position and begin its northward journey.

The people of Magar, Chhantyal and Tharu communities celebrate the festival as Maghi, marking the beginning of a new year with this day.

Talking with Xinhua on Sunday, Saradha Rupakheti, a house wife said that she awaited this day because she was eager to invite her daughter and her son in law at home first time after their marriage.

“This day is about worshipping. It is about bringing family together, eating together the special meal and food items,” she said.

Rupakheti said that she used to go to the river near by her home on this day for a bath but due to pollution of the river, that is not possible now.

Anmol Rajbhandari, a high-school student says he enjoys this day as the day is marked for eating the delicious items with much dignity to the foods. “I am a foodie and I enjoy this day as being a food holiday,” he said.

The government has declared a public holiday on the occasion.