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Maghe Sankranti or Makar Sankranti is being celebrated throughout the country today. It is observed by taking holy dips in rivers and ponds, worshiping at various temples and savoring delicacies like ghee, yam, Khichadi and sweets such as Chaku and sweets made of sesame and molasses.

According to astrological charts, Makar Sankranti has special significance as the sun starts its ascendancy entering into the northern hemisphere from this day onwards.

On this day, sunlight moves from the Tropic of Capricorn towards the Tropic of Cancer. It is believed that the days get longer and nights shorter from today itself. According to ‘Bhabisya Puran’ and ‘Dharma Sindhu’, religious texts, devotees will get special blessings and will have a robust body if they observe the festival as per the rituals.

Likewise, the Newar community observes the festival by taking ghee, Chaku and remembering departed souls. This festival is called ‘Ghyo Chaku Sallnhu’. The seniors apply mild-hot edible oil to the heads of juniors on this day.

A large number of devotees throng Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat and Kankai in Nepal and Prayag and Gangasagar in India to take a holy bath and perform Shraddha.

The festival has significance in view of Ayurveda and medical science as well. Food items that are taken on this day are the sources of a balanced diet which increases the immunity power of the human body. On this day, a festival is organized at the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple in Taumadhi Tole, Bhaktapur, where puja of Deepakankar Buddha is performed.

The Tharu and Magar communities celebrate this festival as Maghi with much fanfare and gaiety. Likewise, the people in the Tarai districts mark the day as the festival of baths known as Nahan.

The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti/Maghi festival.

A dog wandering the streets came to Hotel Global in Chaubiskothi, Bharatpur. The dog started approaching a foreign tourist who had come to the hotel when the watchman there tried to chase it away. However, the dog was not only chased away, but the watchman's action changed the dog's life. The attack on the dog not only deepened its love for dogs, but the dog reached America. That too with a Nepali passport.

The incident took place last June. The life of the dog that was wandering around in search of food at Hotel Global in Bharatpur has changed. American citizens Chanda Rene Gregor, 50, and her daughter Madison, 16, were visiting the place at the time. As the dog approached the hotel, the watchman beat and chased it away, and their love for the dog grew.

The watchman had chased the dog away, wondering if it would do anything to the foreign tourist. When the dog ran away, they sent someone to find it. The tourists didn't just play with the dog, they thought of taking it to America. They decided to take it to their own home after making it understand the process. When they returned for a two-week stay, they gave 20,000 per month and left the care of the dog in the care of one person. They had left with the responsibility of high care. They requested that the process be arranged and that high vigilance and care be maintained. The dog was kept under the supervision of a doctor and regular health check-ups were carried out. The vaccine was given under the supervision of a doctor. The Nepal government's 'fit to fly' permission was obtained.

Then, the dog reached Colorado, USA, on Sunday by Qatar Airlines with a 'pet passport'. Nearly 10,000 US dollars have been spent to complete all the procedures. The dog was sent with a high-quality box to keep the dog. A vehicle was reserved and taken from Chitwan.

It is understood that after being taken to America, it was kept in quarantine for two days and only released after a health check-up. The dog has been named ‘Bali’. “Love for animals was visible” Chitwan Human Services and Labor Vice President Binod Dhaka said, “They were in constant contact since they left and were interested and worried about the dog. After completing all the procedures, they took the dog, which looked like a stray, and left it on the street. They were drawn by their love for the animal.”

Seeing the tourists’ love, the dog started coming in the morning and evening, said Global Hotel Managing Director Yubaraj Neupane, “Their love became so strong that we were shocked when we decided to take it to America.”

The Maghe Sankranti fair commenced at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli rivers in Devghat with the hoisting of a bamboo ritualistic pole. 

A famous pilgrimage site, Devghat is also the tri-junction of Chitwan, Tanahun, and Nawalparasi.

On the occasion, there was a large presence of locals including Atmananda Giri, the head of Beni's Galeshwar Ashram; Gyananand Saraswati, the president of the Nepal Saint Society; Ramanand Giri, the head of Mahesh Sannyas Ashram; Ishwari Raj Laudari, the chairman of the Devghat Area Development Committee; the Committee executive director Sadan Baral; and members of the committee.

Chief District Officer of Chitwan District, Ganesh Aryal, said that all arrangements for the security of the Maghe Sankranti fair have been completed.

It is estimated that 300, 000 devotees will attend the fair this year.

A big religious fair takes place at the confluence of the two rivers at Devghat every year on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti festival. 

A large number of devotees visit the place to take ablution bath at the river confluence and to perform associated rituals.

An SBI Bank branch at Hayutar Bastipur in Ghyanglekh Rural Municipality-2, Sindhuli was robbed on Tuesday night.

SP Lal Dhwaj Subedi, Chief at the District Police Office, Sindhuli said  that an armed group looted more than Rs 31 million from the bank.

Police said that a group of around six persons entered the bank at around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, overpowered the security guards and employees and fled with Rs 31. 59 million in cash. 

According to SP Subedi, a police team was mobilized immediately after the incident and during the search operation, Rs 18.91 million was recovered from the nearby forest.

Police have impounded a Tata Sumo jeep (BAD 0398) allegedly used for robbery and arrested its driver Bhavat Singh Thapa for investigation. 

The robbers had taken the bank's security guard Rudra Bahadur Karki under control at gunpoint and attacked him.

According to Karki, four robbers attacked him with khukuris and two with pistols.

Police rescued him immediately after the incident.

Police suspect that the robbers might have fled towards Kavre.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, said police.