Maghe Sankranti
The winter solstice festival marks the sun's movement into Capricorn and the lengthening of days. Families eat yams, sweet potatoes, and chaku, a sweet made from molasses, ghee, and nuts, believed to provide warmth in the cold season. The Tharu people of the Terai celebrate Maghi as their new year with feasting, dancing, and the traditional Tharu stick dance. It is the day when Tharu communities settle debts, renew contracts, and make plans for the coming agricultural year. Elders bless the younger generation, and the communal feast strengthens village bonds across the southern plains.