Magh Purnima is the full moon of the month of Magha. In the purnimanta way of counting, in which each month ends at the full moon, it is the last day of Magha, and in tradition it closes a month of bathing and giving. At Haridwar it is a main bathing day on Saturday 20 February 2027.
The last day of Magha
A purnima is the fifteenth and last tithi of the bright half (Shukla paksha) of a lunar month, the day of the full moon; the Prayagraj Mela Authority describes Paush Purnima, a month earlier, in the same terms.
Hindu calendars count the lunar month in two ways, and the Tirth panchang shows both:
| What | Purnimanta | Amanta |
|---|---|---|
| A month ends at | The full moon | The new moon |
| 20 February 2027 | Magha, its last day | Magha |
| Mahashivratri, 6 March 2027 | Phalguna | Still Magha |
| The new moon of 8 March 2027 | Phalguna Amavasya | Still in Magha |
The Haridwar bathing days follow the purnimanta names, so by that count Magh Purnima closes Magha, and the next day Phalguna begins.
The full moon itself begins during the morning. By the Tirth panchang for Haridwar, the tithi at sunrise on 20 February 2027 is still Magha Shukla Chaturdashi, and Purnima begins later that morning. The mela administration lists the bath for 20 February. When a tithi begins after sunrise, calendars can differ by a day, so go by the official list.
A day for bathing and giving
The official Haridwar Kumbh website describes Magh Purnima as a highly auspicious occasion for a holy dip in the Ganga, prayers and charity. Devotees believe, it says, that bathing on this day cleanses the mind and soul, and many also give daan and pray for their families and ancestors. Read daan at the Kumbh for what people give and why.
At Prayagraj the day has a meaning of its own. By tradition, kalpvas, the month of simple living by the Sangam, runs from Paush Purnima to Magh Purnima. In 2025 the Press Information Bureau reported that more than 10 lakh kalpvasis ended their month on Magh Purnima with a final dip, puja and daan. See kalpvas explained.
Photo: Ninara, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe Prayagraj Mela Authority adds two beliefs about the day: that Maghi Purnima is known for the worship of Guru Brihaspati, and that on this day the Gandharva comes down from the heavens to the Sangam.
Magh Purnima at each Kumbh
| Kumbh | Magh Purnima | What the day is |
|---|---|---|
| Haridwar Kumbh 2027 | Saturday 20 February 2027 (provisional) | The fourth of eleven bathing days; not an Amrit Snan |
| Prayagraj Magh Mela 2027 | Saturday 20 February 2027 (expected) | Maghi Purnima, a main bathing day and, by tradition, the end of kalpvas; not yet listed by the mela authority |
| Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025 | Wednesday 12 February 2025 (held) | A main bathing day; kalpvas ended |
| Haridwar Kumbh 2021 | 27 February 2021 | A bathing day in the calendar announced for that year |
| Nashik 2027 and Ujjain 2028 | Not bathing days | Their main baths fall later in the year |
After Magh Purnima
At Haridwar, Magh Purnima is the last of the winter baths. They run from Makar Sankranti on 14 January through Mauni Amavasya on 6 February and Basant Panchami on 11 February to Magh Purnima on 20 February. The next bathing day is Mahashivratri on Saturday 6 March 2027, the first of the four Amrit Snans, followed two days later by Phalguna Amavasya.
Main bathing days usually draw large numbers of pilgrims; follow police and mela instructions on the day. For the day itself, see the Magh Purnima snan page, and for all eleven days, the Haridwar dates page.
Sources
13 sources · checked 16 Oct 2026
- Snan and Events: day descriptions in the 'View Details' panels (Haridwar Kumbh 2027 official website) · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
- Snan and Events: Haridwar Kumbh 2027 (official website) · Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration, Government of Uttarakhand ·
- Dates announced for bathing festivals during Ardh Kumbh Mela in Haridwar · Press Trust of India (via The Week) ·
- Panchang for Haridwar on the 2027 bathing days (Tirth panchang) · TravNext Tech Private Limited (Tirth.com) ·
- Panchang: tithi, sunrise and lunar month · TravNext Tech Private Limited (Tirth.com) ·
- The Beginning of Maha Kumbh 2025: A Grand Spiritual Spectacle · Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Culture, Government of India ·
- 45 Crore Devotees at Maha Kumbh 2025: Maha Kumbh 2025 Witnesses Record-Breaking Footfall · Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Culture) ·
- Bathing Dates: Maha Kumbh 2025, descriptions of Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Maghi Purnima and Maha Shivaratri · Prayagraj Mela Authority, Government of Uttar Pradesh ·
- Mahakumbh 2025: A Spectacle of Faith, Unity, and Tradition · Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) ·
- Shahi snan dates for Kumbh 2021 announced · Press Trust of India (via Business Standard) ·
- Magh Mela 2027 · Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (listing credited to Uttar Pradesh Tourism) ·
- Kumbh Mela Plan (First Edition): Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 · Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority, Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Nashik, Government of Maharashtra ·
- MP Simhastha Kumbh 2028: ₹25k Cr Infrastructure Push For 40Cr Devotees, Says CM Yadav · Deccan Chronicle ·
