Māgh (Shahmukhi:ماگھ;Gurmukhi:ਮਾਘ ,Punjabi pronunciation:[máːgᵊ]) is the eleventh month[1] of thePunjabi calendar as well as theNanakshahi calendar, which governs the activities withinSikhism.[2] The Nanakshahi solar month begins on January 13th, afterPoh, and ends on February 12th, being followed byPhagan.[3] The traditional Punjabi Bikrami lunisolar month begins on the day after the Poh full moon and ends on the Magh full moon.
Magh 4:Sakat Chauth/Bhugga (ਸਕਟ ਚੌਥ/ਭੁੱਗਾ) - A day of fasting dedicated toGanesha and observed by mothers for their children. Special sweets made oftil (sesame) andgur (jaggery) along withpinnis which are round sweet balls made of wheat flour,ghee, and sugar.
Magh 20: Basant/Basant Panchami (ਬਸੰਤ/ਬਸੰਤ ਪੰਚਮੀ) - A festival dedicated to GoddessSaraswati commemorating the arrival of spring when people wear yellow to mirror the blooming mustard fields. After Saraswati Puja is performed in the morning and sweeted yellow rice is eaten asparshad, families fly kites for the remainder of the day.
The following festivals may fall in the month of Poh or Magh:
January 13:Lohri (ਲੋਹੜੀ) - A bonfire festival celebrated on the eve of Maghi when devotees and families circle a sacred fire and offer sesame seeds, jaggery, and peanuts to the fire god for the commencement of the coming longer and warmer days. Lohri is also celebrated as a secular and important cultural festival of Punjab honouringDulla Bhatti, aPunjabi Muslimzamindar who defied the oppressiveMughal rule by redistributing wealth and savedPunjabi Hindu girls from slavery and persecution under the Mughals. This festival is known asLal Loi andBhogi in other parts of South Asia.
January 14:Maghi (ਮਾਘੀ) - A highly auspicious day marking the sun's journey into the northern hemisphere and the return of warmth and longer days. This day marks the sun's transition into the sign ofMakar (Capricorn). It is celebrated with chanting prayers toSurya while taking purifying dips into local waterbodies, rivers, andsarovars and the donation of sesame seeds, jaggery, nuts, and warm clothing to the poor. This festival is known asMakar Sankranti,Pongal,Magh Bihu,Uttarayan,Makara Jyothi,Ghughutiya,Shakrain, andMaghe Sankranti in other parts of South Asia.
^Mishra, Vinod K. (2020). "4.3 The Nanakshahi Calendar (Tropical-Solar) - Months of Nanakshahi Calendar".Calendars of India. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 34–35.ISBN9788120842762.
^Melton, J. Gordon, ed. (Sep 13, 2011). "The Nanakshahi Calendar of the Sikhs".Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 162–163.ISBN9781598842067.
