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Maghotsav is the main festival of theBrahmos celebrated on 11Magh each year according to theBengali calendar to mark the anniversary ofBrahmo Samaj. The celebration commemorates the inauguration of the first Brahmo Samaj byRam Mohan Roy on 23 January 1830, which was on 11 Magh according to the Bengali calendar in that year.
Maghotsav is celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety by Brahmos all over the world. It is celebrated by divine service or prayer, offered by theacharya or minister, interspersed with devotional hymns popularly known as Brahmasangeet. In Kolkata, which is now the main seat of Brahmoism, week long celebrations are carried out in the Brahmo Samajes like Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Navavidhan Brahmo Samaj, Brahmo Sammilan Samaj. The other Samajes in Bengal like Harinavi, Konnagar, Baniban, Nimta, Puddopukur also join in the festivities.
A special divine service is held on 11 Magh atJorasanko Thakur Bari - the seat of theTagore's in Kolkata where ministers from the three main Samajes join together in performing the Maghotsav. The songs are sung by the music group Baitanik - founded by lateSoumendranath Tagore.
Maghotsav is also celebrated in other Brahmo Samajes in India and the Brahmo educational institutions as well and in Tagore'sSantiniketan. However these are one-day celebrations rather than a week long.
The Brahmo religion stands for the following (as laid down in the Trust Deed of the Brahmo Samaj):[1]