In Nepal, there are as many festivals as there are days in a year. Being blessed with the quality of being one of the most culturally diverse countries, someone somewhere is celebrating a festivity on any given day. While the many nuances of Himalayan beliefs, rituals, and festivals are so vast that there are entire libraries dedicated to the sole topic, here is a quick guide to some of the widely celebrated major festivals in Nepal.

September 22- October 1, Dashain 

A kid after receiving blessings from elders on the Tika day of Dashain. Picture Courtesy of Subir Thapa (Facebook)

Dashain is the most important festival to most Hindu Nepalis. It is a celebration of good prevailing over evil, with its roots stemming from myths in the Ramayan scriptures. Most families offer male goats, ducks, chickens, egg,s and coconuts to the goddess Durga. People return to their home villages and spend the fifteen-day festival with their families. Large swings are set up for children, and from the tenth day, family members receive Tika (rice, red vermillion, and yoghurt) on their foreheads from their elders.

October 18-23, Tihar

Girls singing and dancing at Deusi in Tihar. Picture courtesy of Bhas Na Veen (Facebook)

Tihar is Nepal’s second most important festival, after Dashain. In each of the three days, a different deity is worshipped: on the first day, the crow, the messenger of Yama (the bringer of death); on the second, dogs, which are believed to be Yama’s custodian; and on the third, the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, the bringer of wealth. Lakshmi is worshipped by lighting houses with oil lamps, candle,s and colorful lights. Without question, Tihar is one of the most dazzling festivals of Nepal.

October 28, Chhath

Devotees offering prayers to the Sun on Chhath Festival.

Chhath is the most important festival observed in the Terai region and falls on the seventh day after Tihar. Devotees fast and make offerings to the sun by gathering at river banks. The Terai region is the best place to observe this festival, or the Rani Pokhari tank in central Kathmandu.

February 28, Lhosar

Lhosar is celebrated by Nepalese ethnic groups who trace their history to Tibet, namely the Gurung, Tamang, and Sherpa people. Lhosar is the first day of the new year, and each community celebrates the festival differently. Traditional dress is worn by young and old, and festivities are held in cities and more remote regions.

February 3, Basanta Panchami

Devotees worship goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and creator of arts, education, and music. Basanta Panchami also marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

February 26, Maha Shivaratri

‘Shivaratri’ means the ‘night of Lord Shiva’. Devout Hindus bathe early in the morning and fast on this day, then visit Shiva temples. The best place to witness the festival is at the Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu, where thousands of Sadhus (Hindu holy men) smoke marijuana and hashish, considered dear to Lord Shiva. People also drink Bhang, a drink made by mixing ground nuts, spices, herbs, and extracts of marijuana into milk. One could certainly say that Maha Shivaratri is one of the more interesting festivals of Nepal.

March 14, Holi

Holi; The Festival of Colours

Holi is a very colourful and playful festival. It is celebrated in the Terai on one day, and in Kathmandu and the hill regions on the next day. People smear coloured powders on their friends, relatives, and family members, and throw coloured water and water balloons. It’s important not to take any valuables out with you on this day unless they are sealed in a plastic bag!

March 29, Ghode Jatra

Godhe Jatra. Picture courtesy of StreetNepal

Ghode Jatra is important in the Kathmandu Valley and is celebrated to ward off demonic Gurumapa. It is said the soul of the demon still lives underground at Tundikhel. To prevent him from rising again, a horse race is organised on this day by the Nepal Army.

April 12-13, Nepali New Year (Bisket Jatra)

Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur

This is a major holiday in Nepal. A particularly lively place to spend the day is Bhaktapur, where the Bisket Jatra festival takes place. A huge chariot carrying the god Bhairab is pulled through the streets, ending with a chariot battle at Bhaktapur’s Khalna Tole.

On this day, children (including adult children!) offer sweets, fruits and gifts to their mothers to show their respect and gratitude. Those whose mothers have passed away visit Mata Tirtha in the west of Kathmandu, take a holy bath, and make offerings in their mother’s memory.

April-May, Rato Machchhendranath

The Chariot of Rato Machindranath

This is Nepal’s longest and largest festival, held in Patan. A large chariot is built on Pulchowk Road over several weeks, and finally, the god Machchhendranath is placed inside. Three days later, the chariot begins its procession throughout Patan and wider Lalitpur, towards Bungamati. Machchhendranath is the Newar god of rain, and the festival ushers in the monsoon. Since the festival follows the lunar calendar, the precise date is often known further into the year, howeve, it usually occurs during the second half of April.

May 12, Buddha Jayanti 

Buddhist Devotees Celebrating Buddha Jayanti in Boudhanath.

Buddha’s birthday falls on the first full day of the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar and is celebrated by Hindus as well as Buddhists. It is observed at Buddhist shrines and monasteries throughout Nepal, but a particularly grand ceremony is held at Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini, in the Terai. In Kathmandu, the Tibetan enclave of Boudhanath is a particularly good place to watch the festivities.

June 29, Naag Panchami

Naag Panchami falls in the middle of the monsoon. It is a Hindu festival that worships the serpent god, Naag. Pictures of Naag are posted in doorways, and milk is offered to him. It is believed that worshipping Naag protects against snake bites. This festival marks respect for serpents as the water guardians and ensures regular rainfall in the Kathmandu Valley.

August 9, Janai Purnima 

Picture Courtesy of Prateek Gurung

Janai Purnima is the Sacred Thread Festival. On this day, Hindu men, especially the Brahmins and Chettris, perform their annual change of Janai, and all who celebrate this festival put a sacred thread around their wrist. Gosaikunda, the sacred pond in high altitude, witnesses the great celebration on this day.

August 10, Gai Jatra 

The festival’s name is Gai Jatra (literally meaning the festival of cows), and nowadays it is a fusion of three traditions that came into being in three different periods of time. The first and the oldest tradition incorporates a cult and a worship of the ancient god of death, Yamaraj. Thus, the festival marks the acceptance and celebration of death in a positive way, as an inevitable part of life. Every family that has lost a member in the previous year is supposed to lead a carefully and intricately decorated cow through the city. In the absence of a cow, a boy dressed as a cow (the oldest for a lost male member and the youngest for a female family member) can successfully take on the role.

This festival of Nepal is somewhat akin to the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations.

August 15, Krishna Janmastami

Krishna Janmastami marks the birth of Krishna. Considered the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Krishna is the most important character in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharat. On this day Hindu devotees visit Krishna temples. In particular, thousands of devotees gather at the stone Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square.

August 26, Teej 

Among the many festivals in Nepal, Teej is one celebrated exclusively by Nepali women. On this day women celebrate wishing for the long life of their husband and a long and firm relationship between them until death in this life and all the lives to come. Teej is observed for marital happiness, the well-being of spouse and children and purification of own body and soul. Teej is the most famous festival among Nepali women.

August 28, Rishi Panchami 

Rishi Panchami is a festival that is celebrated immediately after Teej Puja. Hindu women attach undue importance to this festival of Rishi Panchami because they believe that by observing Rishi
Panchmi fast and by paying homage to Rishis (Saints) on this day of the festival, they will be blessed and forgiven for all their sins that they are bound to commit during their menstrual cycle by not following the strictures laid down for them by their religion.

Note:
Hartalika Teej and Rishi Panchami are only observed by women. Ghode Jatra, Gai Jatra, and Indra Jatra are only observed in the Kathmandu valley. Some dates of the festivals are subject to change. In such cases, we will be updating the festival dates.

Inspired? If you are interested in our festival tours, have a look at what Royal Mountain Travel can also offer:

Mustang Tiji Festival

Haritalika Teej & Rishi Panchami Festival Tour

Janai Purnima and Gai Jatra Festival Tour

Bijaya Dashami Festival (Dashain) Tour

Bisket Jatra Festival Tour

Ram Navami Festival in Janakpur Tour

For more information about festivals in Nepal, have a look at Inside Himalayas: Modern Cultural Festivals  in Nepal You Can’t Miss