🙏 Agni Dev & the Harvest

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu)

🗓️ Sun enters Makara Rashi — first of Magh (mid-January)

The story behind Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu)

Magh Bihu marks the end of the harvest in Assam, on the day the Sun enters Makara. It is also called Bhogali Bihu, from bhog — feasting — because the granaries are full. On the eve, Uruka, the community builds the meji, a tall structure of bamboo and thatch, and a temporary bhelaghar to eat and keep vigil in through the night. At dawn the meji is set alight and the fire is offered the first pithas and rice, after which the ash is scattered on the fields.

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) Puja Vidhi

  1. 1

    Uruka Bhoj

    On the eve, cook and eat together in the bhelaghar, and keep the night's vigil around the built meji.

  2. 2

    Prata Snana

    Bathe before dawn, traditionally in a river, before the fire is lit.

  3. 3

    Meji Jwalan

    Set the meji alight at first light, offer pitha, betel and the season's rice into the fire, and circumambulate it.

  4. 4

    Bhasma & Go Seva

    Scatter the ash over the fields and fruit trees for the coming crop, and feed and garland the cattle.

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) Mantra

ॐ अग्नये नमः॥

Meaning

Salutations to Agni, who carries the offering, into whom the first of the harvest is given.

How to chant

Chant at the lighting of the meji and while offering the first pitha into the fire.

When is Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu)?

YearDate
2025Tuesday, 14 January 2025
2026Wednesday, 14 January 2026
2027Thursday, 14 January 2027
2028Friday, 14 January 2028
2029Sunday, 14 January 2029

Dates are computed with the Drik (observational) method from real solar and lunar positions, using sunrise-to-sunrise Tithi assignment for New Delhi.

Does Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) fall on the same date everywhere?

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) begins at the exact moment the Sun crosses into a new zodiac sign — the same instant everywhere on Earth. Which calendar day it's observed on in a given city depends on local convention relative to that instant (in most places, whether it falls before or after that city's own sunrise), so Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) can land on different dates in different countries even though the underlying moment is the same for everyone.

CityDate
New DelhiWed, 14 January
New YorkTue, January 13
LondonWed 14 January
TorontoTue, January 13
SydneyWed 14 January
DubaiWed, 14 January
SingaporeWed, 14 January

These dates follow the panchang convention computed for each city's own coordinates — they are not a universal verdict. Some temples and communities shift observance to a weekend regardless of the computed date, and published panchang authorities recommend using your own city's panchang rather than a single worldwide date. Confirm with your local temple or community before treating a date as final.

Festivals around Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu)

All Hindu festivals →See the full Vedic calendar →Today's Panchang & muhurtas →

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) FAQs

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) falls on 14 January 2026, based on Kaala's Drik Panchang calculation for the corresponding Tithi.

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) is dated according to the lunar Tithi, not the fixed Gregorian calendar, so its Gregorian date shifts from year to year while its position in the lunar calendar stays consistent.

The astronomical event Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) marks happens at the same instant everywhere in the world, but which calendar day that instant falls on locally depends on each city's own timing — so cities in different countries can observe Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) a day apart.