Chaaku

Tilauri and Til ko Laddu
Sakhar-Khand, Pidaalu and Tarul
Gheu
Khichadi

Maghe Sankranti, or Makar Sankranti as it is often called, is one of the most auspicious religious festivals in Nepal. Celebrated on the first day of the month of Magh (January/February), Nepalese people celebrate the festival to mark the end of winter into the upcoming spring.

Devotees wake up in the early hours before sunrise and take a bath in many holy rivers, singing devotional songs and offer water to the Sun God, Surya. According to beliefs, the bath purifies the self, the soul and fulfils wishes. People also visit temples, visit their most elderly relatives, friends and family, and give-receive blessings.

Maghe Sankranti is typically a day spent with family, basking in the sun, and pampering oneself with food and oil massages - it ensures that one is well fed and nourished until the winter lasts!

Traditionally, Maghe Sankranti also commemorates the beginning of the harvest season, and is marked with great festivity and with special delicacies consumed only at this time of the year. For the ethnic group of Magars, however, the day is equivalent to their New Year - celebrated with grand communal gathering, and fanfare.

As with any other festivities, people partake in feasts with food items that are most suited and observed for the particular festival. Maghe Sankranti sees a buzz of many popular food items known and loved around the country. Every serving is a mix of colour and texture, and is a treat to the palette. The tempting aromas take over the senses and you could dive in for a bite. Once you dig in, the mix of colours you see on your plate will completely take over you as you bask in the warmth of the mid-January sun. So, let’s take a look, shall we?

1. Chaaku

Chaaku is quite famous already. These retreated molasses patties can be obtained in different sizes and are easily distinguishable because of the thick brown colour that it pertains. A lighter variant can also be found which are semi-solid jaggery called Gud, mainly sold during the festival.

2. Tilauri and Til ko Laddu

Tilauri, as the name suggests, is made from iTl (sesame seeds) and sugar, formed into a chewy candy. Tilauri has a light colour that separates it from Til ko Laddu which is generally made with a blend of til, gud and sugar and has a darker colour similar to that of chaaku.

3. Sakhar-Khand, Pidaalu and Tarul

Sakar-Khand or Sweet Potatoes are highly popular during this festival and are noticeable in almost all the markets around town. The streets are abuzz and you come across a number of vendors selling sweet potatoes. Similarly, pidaalu (taro roots) and tarul (yam) are also just as popular. While you are more likely to hear the buzz around sakhar and tarul, you will be able to find all three in the market in almost all shapes, sizes and textures.

4. Gheu

Gheu-Chaaku is arguably the most popular phrase you’ll hear in and around this festival, especially if you’re in a Newari community. Gheu is basically clarified butter and goes on and with all the food items that are eaten during this festival.

5. Khichadi

Focusing on healthy eating on this day of festivities, people partake on khichadi which is a traditional way of cooking rice with black gram daal. Paired with melted gheu-chaaku, it becomes a popular combination while enjoying the feast. Served with traditionally cooked meat, spinach and achaar, it can be considered a typical Nepali khana or meal and is the main course for the day.

Green leaf spinach is also a noted food partaken during this festival. All the food items during the festival focus on healthy eating and are observed for warming up the body, getting good nourishment, and the purification of one’s body.

This festival is believed to bring an end to the ill-omen month of Poush and the day, Magh 1, is also regarded as the coldest day of the year as well as the mark for the start of warmer seasons. The Hindus worship Lord Shiva on the day, offering delicacies like sakhar-khand, tilauri, chaaku tarul and gheu, with the belief that one becomes healthier by consuming such items to mark the occasion.

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