Why Maarghazhi Holds Deep Spiritual and Cultural Significance in South India
Maarghazhi: A Month of Devotion, Dawn Prayers, and South India’s Living Traditions
Understanding Maarghazhi: A Sacred Month Rooted in History, Astronomy, and Devotion
From Makar Sankranti to Pongal: The Shared Civilisational Meaning of Maarghazhi
Maarghazhi, the sacred month observed in South India, marks devotion, tradition, and cultural pride, culminating in Pongal and the sun’s northward journey.
Maarghazhi
In the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, the month of Maarghazhi ( called Maagh in the north )in India started on 16th/17th December 2025 and will end on 13th/14th January 2026. It is considered a holy month and regarded as highly auspicious in South India
Maarghazhi ends on Pongal day ( 14th January ) called Makar Sankranti in north India, when the sun begins its upward ascent ( uttarayan ), and is celebrated with great festivity
I had written an article about Maarghazhi some years back, which is reproduced below. Hence, I am not reproducing its contents
On each of these days, many people, particularly ladies, get up very early in the morning, have a bath, and pray, singing each day one stanza of the poem Thiruppavai written by the poet saint Andal, perhaps over a thousand years ago.
When I was in Toronto, Canada ( where many Tamilians are settled ) some years back, I came to know that many Tamil ladies settled there sing it throughout the month after getting up early in the morning and having a bath.
It is a shame that most North Indians do not know much about South India, its great culture and history.
I extend my greetings to my South Indian brothers and sisters on the occasion of Maarghazhi. They have done the country proud by their great achievements in various fields--science, art, literature, etc. May they prosper in the years to come.
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman of the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own.)
