Magha () is the eleventh

month A month is a unit of time, used with calendars, that is approximately as long as a natural phase cycle of the Moon; the words ''month'' and ''Moon'' are cognates. The traditional concept of months arose with the cycle of Moon phases; such lunar mo ...

of the

Hindu calendar The Hindu calendar, also called Panchangam, Panchanga (), is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes ...

, corresponding to January/February of the

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...

. In India's national civil calendar, Magha is also the eleventh month of the year, beginning on 20 January and ending on 18 February. In the Hindu

lunisolar calendar A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures, that combines monthly lunar cycles with the solar year. As with all calendars which divide the year into months, there is an additional requirement that the year have a whole number of mont ...

, Magha may begin on either the new moon or the full moon around the same time of year. It is named thus because in this month, the full moon is usually found nearby or within the star cluster called Magha. Since the traditional Hindu calendar follows the lunar cycle, Magha's start and end dates vary from year to year, unlike the months of the Hindu

solar calendar A solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicates the season or almost equivalently the apparent position of the Sun relative to the stars. The Gregorian calendar, widely accepted as a standard in the world, is an example of a solar calendar ...

s. Magha is a winter ( Shishira Ritu) month. The lunar month of Magha overlaps with the solar month of

Makara Makara () is a legendary sea-creature in Hindu mythology. In Hindu astrology, Makara is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Capricorn. Makara appears as the vahana (vehicle) of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada, and of the god of the ocean, Varun ...

, which begins with the

Sun The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System. It is a massive, nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core, radiating the energy from its surface mainly as visible light a ...

's entry into Capricorn.

Festivals

* Shukla

Panchami Panchami () is the fifth day ( tithi) of the fortnight (paksha) in the Hindu lunar calendar. Festivals * Naga Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus in most parts of India. It is celebrated in the Shravana month. On this day, adhere ...

Vasant Panchami Vasant Panchami , also rendered Vasanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja in honour of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated in Indian religions in different ways ...

* Shukla Saptami: Ratha Saptami * Maagh Mela is an important festival celebrated by most of North India. * The world-famous "Maha Maham" festival is held every 12 years during full moon day of this month of "maasi". *

Makar Sankranti Makar(a) Sankrānti (), () also referred to as Uttarāyana, Makara, or simply Sankrānti, is a Hinduism, Hindu observance and a mid-winter harvest festival in India and Nepal. It is typically celebrated on 14 January annually (15 January on a ...

* Shukla Ashtami is called as Bhishma Ashtami. It is the day on which

Bhishma Bhishma (), also known as Pitamaha, Gangaputra, and Devavrata, is a central figure in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He was a statesman and military commander of the ancient Kuru Kingdom. Renowned for his wisdom, valor, and unwavering principles, ...

, son of Ganga, was born.

References

*11 {{Hindu-theo-stub

Festivals

See also

References