Magha (month)
Magha is the eleventh month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar. The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Magha nakshatra on the full moon day. The month marks the winter season and falls in January-February of the Gregorian calendar.
In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Makara and begins with the Sun's entry into Capricorn. It corresponds to Magh, the tenth month in the Bengali calendar. In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the eleventh month of Masi, falling in the Gregorian months of February-March. In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the eleventh month of Madhava.
In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after Amavasya or Purnima as per amanta and purnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each, Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha. Days in each cycle is labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.Festivals
is observed on the Ashtami thithi of Shukla Paksha of the month. It commemorates the death anniversary of Bhishma, one of the central characters from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, who chose his time of death during the auspicious Uttarayana period. On the day, people perform rituals at river banks to honour him and their ancestors.Makar Sankranti
is a harvest festival that marks the transition of the Sun to Capricorn, beginning its northward journey. People celebrate the festival by thanking the Sun and nature for a good harvest. Rituals including river bathing, preparation of sweets, kite flying, and social activities.falls on Saptami of Shukla Paksha, and is dedicated to the Sun god Surya. As per Hindu mythology, it marks the day when Surya rides his chariot drawn by seven horses, and marks the coming of spring. People bathe early in the morning and offer prayers to the Sun for prosperity and health.is celebrated on Panchami thithi of Shukla Paksha. The festival marks the end of winter and welcomes the impending arrival of spring season. It is dedicated to the worship of goddess Saraswati, the patron deity of knowledge, learning and arts. People wear bright coloured clothes, symbolising the onset of spring, and often fly kites.Magha Purnima
, observed on the full Moon day, marks the start of the annual Magh Mela, and the Kumbh Mela, held once in twelve years.