It is the spiritually significant month of Magh when Hindus observe two important religious festivals, Maghi Ganesh and Maghi Gupt Navratri.
The Maghi Ganesh festival starts on February 1 and will end on February 11. Maghi Ganesh Jayanti, or Magh Vinayak Chaturthi, distinct from Ganesh Chaturthi later in the year, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesh. The day is celebrated annually on the Chaturthi Tithi of the Shukla Paksha or bright fortnight in the Hindu lunar month of Magh. The day is observed as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.
In 2025, the festival falls on February 1, with the tithi starting on February 1 at 1.08 am and ending the next day at 9.14 am. Priest Nachiket Kojarekar Guruji explained that Ganesha is believed to have taken three incarnations. “Lord Ganesha took his first incarnation on Vaishakh Purnima. This day is celebrated as Pushtipati Vinayak Jayanti. The second avatar is worshipped during Shri Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadrapada. He took his third incarnation on Magh Shukla Chaturthi. This day is celebrated as Ganesh Jayanti,” said Kojarekar.Religious traditions during the festival are similar to Ganesh Chaturthi in Bhadra (August-September). During Maghi Ganesh, devotees bring home idols of the deity and immerse it on the 11th day.
Like every year, the Doosra Kumbharwada Sarvajanik (Maghi) Ganeshotsav Mandal has a 11-foot-tall idol. “This Ganeshotsav is older than the one in Bhadra as this is the birthday of Ganesh,” said Shubham Wadiwala of the mandal which was established in 1947.Magh is a month for charity and other spiritual activities. The Girgaon mandal is organising a blood donation camp. There will also be cultural programmes like a ‘Mashal’ performance with flame torches.
The Maghi Gupt Navratri started on January 30. The Panchami, or the fifth day of Magh, February 2, will be observed as Saraswati Jayanti, the birthday of the Goddess. The day is also called Basant or Vasant Panchami and is the beginning of the spring season. The day is marked with Saraswati Pujas. This Navratri is one of the four in a year, with the Sharadiya, Chaitra, Ashwin, and Magh.
According to Hemant Jadhav, manager of Mumbadevi temple, the word ‘gupt’ refers to the mystical rituals during the nine days when nine incarnations of the Mother Goddess are worshipped. “Mostly ascetics and sadhaks (spiritual seekers) do rituals during the period. These rituals are not well-known. So, the festival is called Maghi Gupt Navratri,” said Jadhav.
At Mumbadevi temple, the festival will end on February 6 with a purnahuti, a fire ritual signifying the end of the religious ceremonies. On January 8, the temple will celebrate the anniversary of its founding with satyanarayan puja, navchandi yagna, and the Mumbadevi Mata Palkhi procession in the evening.
