maghe

Maghe is a term most often associated with Maghe Sankranti, a winter festival observed in Nepal and by Nepali-speaking communities. It designates the celebration on the first day of the Nepali month Magh, which typically falls in January. In the broader Vikram Samvat calendar, Magh marks the sun's transition into Makara (Capricorn), a change that is taken as the end of winter and the beginning of longer days.

Practices vary by community, but Maghe Sankranti commonly features family gatherings, temple visits, and cleansing or house-keeping rituals. Food plays a central role: households prepare and share sesame-based sweets such as til laddoo or tilgur, and consume warm dishes made with yams or sweet potatoes and jaggery.

In Nepal, Maghe is a public holiday in many districts and is celebrated with local customs, fairs, and songs. The term Maghe may also be used more broadly to refer to things associated with the month of Magh in the Nepali calendar.