Magh Purnima is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in the month of Magh (January-February) on the full moon day. According to Hindu mythology, Magh Purnima is considered an important day for spiritual purification and devotion.
The story behind Magh Purnima is associated with King Bhagirath, who was said to have brought the sacred river Ganges down from heaven to earth. King Bhagirath is said to have performed intense penance and meditation to Lord Shiva, requesting him to bring the river Ganges to earth in order to save the souls of his ancestors who had been doomed to suffer in hell. Lord Shiva agreed to King Bhagirath’s request, but warned that the powerful force of the river would cause destruction if it was not tamed.
To mitigate this, Lord Shiva caught the river in his matted hair and gradually released it to the earth. It is said that on Magh Purnima, King Bhagirath performed a ritual bath in the river Ganges and his ancestors were finally freed from their suffering.
The festival of Magh Purnima is celebrated in honor of this event and is considered an important day for spiritual purification and devotion. Devotees take a bath in the river Ganges and offer prayers to Lord Shiva and King Bhagirath. The festival is also marked by fasting, meditation, and the chanting of mantras.