Maghi Purnima 2026: Hindu Festival Date, Purnima Tithi, Indian Festivals, Religious News India
31 January 2026
Maghi Purnima 2026 falls on Sunday, 1 February 2026. This full-moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu lunar month of Magha is one of the most auspicious occasions in the Hindu calendar, revered for its spiritual potency, ritual bathing, charity, and the beginning of the annual Magh Mela at Prayagraj (Allahabad). In 2026 the Purnima tithi begins at 11:42 a.m. on 31 January and ends at 12:18 p.m. on 1 February (as per the Ujjain / Varanasi panchang used widely in North India). Most devotees observe the main rituals on 1 February, which is therefore universally accepted as Maghi Purnima across India.
The day holds triple significance: it is the full-moon day of Magha, the Pushya Nakshatra prevails during much of the tithi, and it marks the appearance day of Shri Madhvacharya (one of the principal acharyas of Vaishnavism) according to several Madhva sampradaya calendars. Millions of pilgrims, sadhus and ordinary devotees will gather at sacred riverbanks, especially Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, to take holy dips, perform tarpan for ancestors, offer charity and listen to spiritual discourses.
Religious & Spiritual Significance of Maghi Purnima
Maghi Purnima is considered one of the four most important Purnima days of the year (along with Vaishakh, Kartik and Paush). According to Puranic texts, particularly the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana, any austerity, charity or bathing performed on this day yields results “one hundred thousand times greater” than on ordinary full-moon days. The merit is believed to be especially high because:
- Magha is the month when the Sun is in Capricorn (Makar), a period traditionally associated with austerity and penance.
- The full moon in Magha usually coincides with or is very close to Pushya nakshatra, regarded as highly auspicious for spiritual activities.
- It is the day when the Kumbh Mela cycle formally begins with the Magh Mela (Ardh Kumbh precursor) at Prayagraj.
Devotees believe that a holy dip (snan) in the Triveni Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati) on Maghi Purnima washes away sins accumulated over many lifetimes and helps attain moksha or at least a better rebirth. The day is also widely observed for pitru-tarpan (ancestral offerings) and daan (charity), especially donation of food, clothes, blankets and sesame seeds.
Magh Mela 2026 at Prayagraj: Key Dates & Arrangements
The annual Magh Mela 2026 officially commences on Paush Purnima (12 January 2026) and continues until Maghi Purnima (1 February 2026), with the most auspicious bathing dates being:
- Paush Purnima – 12 January
- Makar Sankranti – 14 January
- Mauni Amavasya – 29 January
- Basant Panchami – 3 February (main bathing day after Maghi Purnima)
- Maghi Purnima – 1 February
Uttar Pradesh government has allocated ₹650 crore for infrastructure and security this year (up from ₹520 crore in 2025). Key arrangements include:
- 4,500 hectares of temporary township with 45,000 tents and 22 pontoon bridges
- 1,200 CCTV cameras + 350 drones for crowd monitoring
- 18,000 police & paramilitary personnel deployed
- 45 medical camps, 200 ambulances, 12 temporary hospitals
- 1,200 boats for sangam ferrying
- Dedicated 5G network coverage across the mela area by BSNL and Jio
Prayagraj airport will operate additional flights from 25 January to 5 February. Railways have announced 62 special trains for the mela period.
Regional Observances and Rituals Across India
While Prayagraj remains the epicentre, Maghi Purnima is celebrated with regional variations:
- North India (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand): Major bathing at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kurukshetra and Pehowa. Devotees offer sesame-jaggery sweets and perform pitru-tarpan.
- Bengal & Odisha: The day coincides with Poush Purnima traditions blending into Magha. Many observe it as a day for Pushya snan and charity to the poor.
- South India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra): Known as Thai Poosam / Magha Purnima; special abhishekam at Murugan and Shiva temples. In Tamil Nadu many devotees observe partial or full fast.
- Maharashtra & Gujarat: Bathing at Triveni Sangam of rivers in Nashik or at holy ghats in Dwarka and Somnath. Charity of food and clothes is prominent.
- Nepal: Thousands gather at Pashupatinath and Devghat for holy dips.
In 2026, several temples including Kashi Vishwanath, Tirupati, Sabarimala and Shirdi have announced special darshan and live-streaming arrangements for Maghi Purnima.
Astrological & Muhurat Timings (Ujjain / Varanasi Panchang)
- Purnima tithi begins: 31 January 2026, 11:42 a.m.
- Purnima tithi ends: 1 February 2026, 12:18 p.m.
- Most auspicious bathing window (Madhyahna Purnima moment): 1 February, 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
- Moonrise: 1 February, 17:48 hrs
- Pushya Nakshatra prevails during much of the tithi, considered highly auspicious for spiritual activities.
Many devotees prefer the early morning hours (4:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.) on 1 February for snan, believing the merit is highest at sunrise.
Cultural & Social Significance in 2026
Maghi Purnima has always been a day of charity and compassion. In 2026, with food inflation still hovering around 5–6%, several NGOs and religious trusts are distributing free langar and dry rations at major ghats. The Ramakrishna Mission, ISKCON, Art of Living and Akshaya Patra have announced plans to feed over 1.5 million people across Prayagraj, Haridwar, Varanasi and Nashik on the day.
The day also carries added emotional weight in 2026 because it falls exactly 78 years after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. Several Gandhi Smriti events across the country are combining Martyrs’ Day observances with Maghi Purnima prayers for peace and non-violence.
Conclusion: A Day of Cleansing and Compassion
Maghi Purnima 2026 arrives at a time when India is simultaneously celebrating its technological and economic progress while grappling with social and environmental challenges. The festival offers a moment of collective pause—millions will dip in sacred rivers at dawn, offer sesame and blankets to the needy, and pray for the well-being of ancestors and the living alike.
Whether one participates in the sangam snan at Prayagraj, visits a local Shiva temple, or simply lights a lamp at home, Maghi Purnima remains a powerful reminder of the Hindu calendar’s emphasis on purification, charity and inner renewal. In the words of Swami Vivekananda: “The day is not far when India will rise again, not through politics alone, but through the spiritual strength of her people.”
May the full moon of Magha bring peace, clarity and compassion to every home.
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