culture · Jorethang, Pelling
Maghe Sankranti Mela on the Rangeet
Maghe Sankranti falls on the first day of Magh in the Nepali calendar, around 14 January, when the sun enters Makara, or Capricorn. It marks the turn from the coldest part of winter towards longer, warmer days. Nepali Hindu families take ritual baths in rivers, visit relatives and share festive food, and Wikipedia notes that Buddhists and Kirati communities also join in. In the hills, sel roti is a fixture of the day.
At Jorethang the festival grows into a week-long mela on the Rangeet. Sikkim government notices put the 71st edition at 14–22 January 2026. Expect lines of stalls selling clothes, household goods and snacks, rides for children, and evening cultural programmes on a stage. The crowd is mostly local families from Jorethang and the villages around, and the mood is relaxed and friendly. Evenings are cool at the river, so bring a jacket.
Entry to the grounds is usually free or nominal; budget about ₹300–800 per person for food, rides and small shopping, indicative, 2026. Rooms in Jorethang are scarce during the mela, so book ahead or stay in Namchi and come down by taxi. Watch your phone and wallet in the crowd. Dates and programmes are confirmed each year, so check current status before you travel. Shared jeeps run as usual during the mela, but expect slower traffic around the bridge and bazaar in the evenings.
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When is the Maghe Sankranti Mela in Jorethang
The mela starts on Maghe Sankranti, the first of Magh, which usually falls on 14 January, and runs for about a week. In 2026 the 71st Maghe Sankranti Mela ran from 14 to 22 January, according to the Sikkim government. Dates are confirmed every year, so check current status before you travel.
Is the Jorethang mela worth a special trip
It is worth a night if you are already in Darjeeling, Namchi or West Sikkim in mid-January. It is a local fair, not a staged show, with food, stalls, rides and evening programmes on the Rangeet. Combine it with Namchi or Pelling rather than travelling far just for the mela.
What food is eaten at Maghe Sankranti
Wikipedia lists chaku, a hard molasses sweet, ghee and sweet potatoes among the traditional foods, and in Sikkim and Darjeeling families also fry sel roti, a ring-shaped rice bread. At the Jorethang mela you will find stalls selling these alongside momos, chow mein and tea. Try the sel roti fresh and hot.
