Magha (month)
| Magha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | माघ (Sanskrit) |
| Calendar | Hindu calendar |
| Month number | 11 |
| Number of days | 29 or 30 |
| Season | Shishira (Winter) |
| Gregorian equivalent | January–February |
| Significant days | |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
|---|
 |
Magha (Māgha) is the eleventh month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar.[1] The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Magha nakshatra (star) on the full moon day.[2] The month marks the winter (Shishira) season and falls in January–February of the Gregorian calendar.[3][4][5]
In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Makara and begins with the Sun's entry into Capricorn.[6][7][8] It corresponds to Magh, the tenth month in the Bengali calendar.[8] In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the eleventh month of Masi, falling in the Gregorian months of February–March.[8][9] In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the eleventh month of Madhava.[10][11]
In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after Amavasya (new moon) or Purnima (full moon) as per amanta and purnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each, Shukla Paksha (waning moon) and Krishna Paksha (waxing moon). Days in each cycle is labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.[12][13]
Festivals
[edit]Bhishma Ashtami
[edit]Bhishma Ashtami is observed on the Ashtami (eighth lunar day) thithi of Shukla Paksha (waning moon) 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.[14][15] On the day, people perform rituals at river banks to honour him and their ancestors.[16]
Makar Sankranti
[edit]Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival that marks the transition of the Sun to Capricorn (Makara), beginning its northward journey (Uttarayana). [17] People celebrate the festival by thanking the Sun and nature for a good harvest.[18] Rituals including river bathing, preparation of sweets, kite flying, and social activities.[19]
Ratha Saptami
[edit]Ratha Saptami falls on Saptami (seventh lunar day) of Shukla Paksha, and is dedicated to the Sun god Surya.[20] As per Hindu mythology, it marks the day when Surya rides his chariot (ratha) drawn by seven horses, and marks the coming of spring.[21] People bathe early in the morning and offer prayers to the Sun for prosperity and health.[22]
Vasant Panchami
[edit]Vasant Panchami is celebrated on Panchami (fifth lunar day) thithi of Shukla Paksha. The festival marks the end of winter and welcomes the impending arrival of spring season (Vasanta).[23] It is dedicated to the worship of goddess Saraswati, the patron deity of knowledge, learning and arts.[24] People wear bright coloured clothes, symbolising the onset of spring, and often fly kites.[25]
See also
[edit]- Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar
- Hindu astrology
- Hindu calendar
- Indian astronomy
- Indian units of measurement
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kenneth W. Morgan, ed. (1987). The Religion Of The Hindus. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 96. ISBN 978-8-120-80387-9.
- ^ Garima Garg (2022). Heavens and Earth: The Story of Astrology Through Ages and Cultures. Penguin Random House. p. 75. ISBN 978-9-354-92705-8.
- ^ Helene Henderson, ed. (2005). Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary (Third ed.). Detroit: Omnigraphics. p. xxix. ISBN 978-0-780-80982-6.
- ^ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M, N-Z (Vol 1 & 2). The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 508. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.
- ^ Robert Sewell; Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita (1896). The Indian Calendar. S. Sonnenschein & Company. pp. 5–11, 23–29.
- ^ Christopher John Fuller (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. pp. 291–293. ISBN 978-0-69112-04-85.
- ^ Robert Sewell; Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita (1896). The Indian Calendar. S. Sonnenschein & Company. pp. 10–11.
- ^ a b c Robert Sewell; John Faithful Fleet (1989). The Siddhantas and the Indian Calendar. Asian Educational Services. p. 334.
- ^ "Tamil Calendar – Months". Time and Date. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Vaisnava Calendar Reminder Services – About Calendar". Vaisnava Calendar. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Something about the Vaisnava Calendar". ISVARA. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Hindu calendar". ISKCON. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Hindu calendar". Arya Samaj. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Bhishma Ashtami". The Times of India. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Bhishma Ashtami 2025: Date, Tithi and the Story of Bhishma Pitamah". News9. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Bhishma Ashtami 2025: Date, Time, Significance And Rituals Of This Sacred Fast". Daily Jagran. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Makar Sankranti". Department of Tourism Maharashtra. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri and more: Significance of these festivals". The Indian Express. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Makar Sankranti: Date, Traditions, History & Regional Celebrations". Outlook India. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Ratha Saptami 2025: Date, Timings, Puja Rituals and Significance". The Times of India. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Ratha Saptami Marks Birth Of Sun God: Significance Of Surya Jayanti". NDTV. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Ratha Saptami Significance and Date 2025". HindUtsav. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Vasant Panchami 2017 – All You Need To Know". NDTV. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "About Vasant Panchami Festival & Vasant Panchami Date 2025". HindUtsav. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Vasant (Basant) Panchami - The Festival of Kites". Indif.com. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
