Magha Purnima 2026: Date, Poornima Tithi and Vrat Timing

Magha Purnima 2026 Date, Poornima Tithi And Vrat Timing

Magha Purnima is the day when the tapasya, Magha snan and charity of the entire month naturally move towards a sense of completion. For those who observe the disciplines of Magha with daily bathing, charity and chanting, Magha Purnima 2026 becomes a sacred opportunity to gather the fruits of their effort.

Magha Purnima is the full moon day of the Magha month according to the Hindu Panchang. In 2026 it falls on the first Sunday of February, with the Poornima Tithi active from early morning and extending into the next day, creating a clear span for the observance of Magha Purnima Vrat.

Detail	Time and Date
Magha Purnima date	1 February 2026, Sunday
Poornima Tithi begins	1 February 2026, 05:55:09 am
Poornima Tithi ends	2 February 2026, 03:41:18 am

For Magha Purnima vow, bathing and charity, 1 February 2026 is treated as the principal observance day. Bathing before or around sunrise, followed by charity, chanting and worship through the day, is considered especially beneficial. Devotees who keep this fast may experience the date as a chance to feel purified, lighter and inwardly closer to the Divine.

What Is Magha Purnima And Its Astrological Background

In the Hindu calendar the full moon that falls in the month of Magha is known as Magha Purnima. The name is linked with the Magha constellation, which gives this lunar month its identity. From a religious and spiritual viewpoint Magha Purnima holds very high sanctity.

There is also a traditional belief that on this day many devas take human form and descend especially to the Prayag region to perform snan, daana and japa. Because of this, bathing in the Ganga or in any sacred water body on Magha Purnima is said to support fulfilment of wishes and to help on the path towards liberation. When Pushya Nakshatra coincides with this date, it is regarded as an especially auspicious combination.

Fruits Of Magha Snan, Charity And Chanting

The observance of Magha is usually counted from Paush Purnima up to Magha Purnima. This entire period is recommended for disciplined snan and charity.

• On Magha Purnima, bathing, charity and chanting are treated as highly meritorious
• It is believed that those who perform Magha snan receive blessings of wealth, progeny, good fortune, prosperity and gentle nature
• Lord Madhava is said to shower special grace on those who keep a steady resolve for Magha snan and daana throughout the month
• Charity offered on this day, especially of food, clothing and sesame, is described as bringing wholesome and long lasting results

By the time Magha Purnima arrives, the combined effect of the month long discipline ripens and becomes more concentrated.

Spiritual Importance Of Magha Purnima

Magha Purnima is not just a festival date. It also marks the final step of a quiet inner practice of patience, restraint and faith.

• Bathing, worship and charity on this day are believed to lighten the weight of karmic mistakes from many births
• It is a supportive moment to renew or strengthen one’s resolve to walk on the path of liberation
• The belief that devas themselves descend to Prayag and perform snan and daana hints at a symbolic bridge between divine and human efforts
• Performing shraddha, tarpana and offerings in the name of ancestors on Magha Purnima is thought to bring satisfaction to the Pitris and their blessings for the family

In this way Magha Purnima becomes a day to look at oneself anew and to deepen surrender to the Divine.

Magha Purnima Vrat And Puja Method

The vrat and worship on Magha Purnima are simple in outward form yet rich in inner meaning. From early morning to midday each step has its own place.

Early Morning Bathing On Magha Purnima

1. Try to wake up in Brahma muhurat or before sunrise.
2. Bathe in a sacred river, lake, pond, nearby well or any clean water source. If this is not possible, bathe at home after adding Ganga water if available.
3. After bathing, stand facing the East and offer water to the Sun.
4. While offering arghya, recite Surya mantra or the Gayatri mantra as per your practice.

This morning bath is seen as the foundational act for Magha Purnima vrat.

Worship Of Vishnu And Fire Ritual On Magha Purnima

After the bath, worship of Lord Vishnu, especially in the form of Lord Madhava or Lord Madhusudana, is recommended.

• Wear clean clothes and arrange a small shrine for Lord Vishnu at home or in a temple
• Offer a lamp, incense, flowers, tulsi leaves and pure water
• Chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya,” meaning “Salutations to Lord Vasudeva,” to steady the mind and deepen devotion
• In many traditions a sacred fire ritual is performed on this day, known as hawan or homa
• Offer sesame, ghee and hawan samagri into the fire while remembering Lord Vishnu and praying for purity of life

The purpose of this fire worship is to symbolically cast inner impurities into the flame and awaken a clearer, brighter energy within.

Shraddha, Tarpana And Charity On Magha Purnima

This date is also considered very suitable for ancestral offerings and acts of generosity.

• Offer water and sesame in tarpana for the peace of ancestors and pray for their upliftment
• Feed brahmins, poor persons or seekers to the best of one’s ability and then offer dakshina
• Donate sesame, black sesame and items made from sesame, along with food and clothing, as appreciated in scriptures

Such charity is not limited to material things alone. It also nurtures humility, empathy and the habit of sharing.

What Are Magh Mela And Kalpavaas

Every year in Tirtharaj Prayag, a large observance known as Magh Mela is organised. It becomes a focus for those who wish to live in a more rigorous way during the month of Magha. Those who stay by the Sangam for an extended period, following special disciplines, are called Kalpavaasi and their practice is known as Kalpavaas.

• Kalpavaas means living on the banks of the Sangam, listening to the Vedas, engaging in japa, meditation and study
• It stands for patience, a vow of non violence and sustained devotion
• On Magha Purnima, Kalpavaas is brought to completion with a concluding bath at the Triveni Sangam

Thus, for Kalpavaasis, the holy dip on Magha Purnima marks the closure of an entire cycle of disciplined living.

Bringing Magha Purnima 2026 Into Daily Life

Magha Purnima 2026 is not limited to those who can travel to Prayag. Every person can make it meaningful in his or her own environment.

• Those who live far away can still begin the day with a sincere bath, offering arghya to the Sun and performing Vishnu puja at home
• One may sit quietly for some time and recall past harshness, mistakes and incomplete promises and inwardly ask for forgiveness and clarity
• Helping someone in need, such as an elderly neighbour, a poor family or a sick person, becomes a living expression of the day’s spirit of charity

The central message of Magha Purnima is to cleanse the body and mind together, making the heart lighter, clearer and more generous.

Common Questions

When is Magha Purnima in 2026 and what is the exact Tithi span
Magha Purnima in 2026 falls on Sunday, 1 February. The Poornima Tithi begins at 05:55:09 am on 1 February 2026 and ends at 03:41:18 am on 2 February 2026. Main observances of bathing, worship and charity are performed on 1 February.

Why is Magha snan performed on Magha Purnima
Magha Purnima marks the culmination of Magha snan. Bathing in a sacred river or clean water on this day is believed to remove sins, purify the mind and attract the grace of Lord Madhava in the form of wealth, progeny, prosperity, fortune and progress towards liberation.

Which deity is mainly worshipped on Magha Purnima
On Magha Purnima the principal worship is offered to Lord Vishnu, especially as Lord Madhava or Lord Madhusudana. After bathing and offering arghya to the Sun, devotees perform Vishnu puja, chant mantras, conduct hawan and also remember their ancestors through tarpana.

What is the importance of shraddha and tarpana on this day
Shraddha, tarpana and charity in the name of ancestors on Magha Purnima are regarded as highly auspicious. Offering water and sesame, feeding brahmins and giving daana are believed to satisfy the Pitris, invite their blessings and ease ancestral imbalances.

How are Kalpavaas and Magh Mela connected with Magha Purnima
During Magh Mela at Tirtharaj Prayag, those who stay on the banks of the Sangam for the entire month in a disciplined way are known as Kalpavaasi. Their Kalpavaas is completed on Magha Purnima with a final dip at the Triveni Sangam, which marks the fulfilment of their vow and gives this date special importance for them.