Nepali Festival Calendar
All major festivals and celebrations of Nepal — BS 2082 (14 Apr 2025 – 13 Apr 2026)
आज · Today
फागुन 18, 2082
Falgun 18, BS 2082 · Tuesday 3 March 2026
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🌈 Holi — Fagu Purnima
Today!
≈ Festival dates follow the Nepali lunar (tithi) calendar and may vary by ±1–2 days. Exact dates are confirmed each year by the Nepal government and religious authorities.
Baisakhबैशाख
14 Apr – 14 May 2025
Nepali New Year
नयाँ वर्ष (नव वर्ष)
Baisakh 1 — the first day of the Bikram Sambat year 2082. Celebrated with street processions, cultural programs, family gatherings and the exchange of New Year wishes.
Buddha Purnima
बुद्ध जयन्ती
Full moon of Baisakh — marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha. Temples are lit, processions held at Swayambhunath and Boudhanath. A public holiday in Nepal.
Jesthaजेठ
15 May – 14 June 2025
Ubhauli Parwa
उभौली पर्व
Kirat (Rai & Limbu) summer festival — offerings are made to nature, crops and the deity Tagera Ningwaphuma. Celebrated with communal feasting and traditional dance.
Asadhअसार
15 June – 16 July 2025
Rath Jatra
रथ यात्रा
The chariot procession of Lord Jagannath — devotees pull massive wooden chariots through the streets in a vibrant festival celebrated by Newar communities and in Janakpur.
Shrawanसाउन
17 July – 17 Aug 2025
Nag Panchami
नाग पञ्चमी
Shrawan Shukla Panchami — images of serpents are pasted above doorways and offered milk, yoghurt and flowers for protection of the family and good rains.
Janai Purnima / Raksha Bandhan
जनाई पूर्णिमा
Full moon of Shrawan — Brahmin and Chhetri men renew their sacred thread (janai) at rivers. Friends tie protective doro threads on each other's wrists. Kwati (mixed bean soup) is shared.
Gai Jatra
गाई जात्रा
Families who lost a member in the past year lead a procession with cows — believed to guide the departed to heaven. Known for its satirical performances and comedy in Kathmandu.
Krishna Janmashtami
कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
Birth celebration of Lord Krishna — temples fill with devotional singing and dancing. Midnight ceremonies mark the moment of Krishna's birth. Major celebration at Patan's Krishna Mandir.
Bhadraभदौ
18 Aug – 17 Sept 2025
Haritalika Teej
हरितालिका तीज
The most celebrated festival for Nepali women — a day of fasting, singing, and prayer for the wellbeing of husbands and family. Women dress in red and dance in temple courtyards.
Rishi Panchami
ऋषि पञ्चमी
A purification day observed the morning after Teej — women fast, bathe in sacred rivers and worship the seven sages (Saptarishi). Datiwan leaves are used for ritual cleansing.
Indra Jatra
इन्द्र जात्रा
Eight-day Newar festival in Kathmandu honouring Indra (god of rain). Features the chariot procession of the living Kumari goddess, Lakhe (demon) dances and the raising of a bamboo pole.
Ashwinअसोज
18 Sept – 17 Oct 2025
Ghatasthapana — Dashain Begins
घटस्थापना
First day of Dashain — a sacred pot (ghata) of water is installed and barley seeds planted (jamara). The 15-day festival honouring the goddess Durga and her victory over evil begins.
Fulpati
फूलपाती
7th day of Dashain — a sacred bouquet of flowers, banana leaves and sugar cane is carried in a grand procession from Gorkha to the Hanuman Dhoka royal palace in Kathmandu.
Maha Ashtami
महा अष्टमी
8th day of Dashain — the most sacred night. Midnight animal sacrifices are offered to the goddess Kali at Taleju Bhawani temple. Kalratri (the great night) is observed with fasting.
Maha Navami
महा नवमी
9th day of Dashain — vehicles, tools and weapons are worshipped (Ayudha Puja). Animal sacrifices at the national stadium. Government offices hold their own Taleju puja.
Vijaya Dashami — Dashain Tika
विजया दशमी
The 10th and main day of Dashain — elders apply red tika mixed with yoghurt and rice on foreheads along with jamara (grass). The most important family gathering day in the Nepali calendar.
Kartikकार्तिक
18 Oct – 16 Nov 2025
Kaag Tihar — Crow Day
काग तिहार
First day of Tihar — crows are regarded as messengers of Yama (god of death). Rice, sweets and fruits are offered to crows in the morning to honour their role as bearers of news.
Kukur Tihar — Dog Day
कुकुर तिहार
Dogs are honoured as guardians and companions — garlanded with marigolds, given tika and special food. One of the most joyful and heartwarming Nepali traditions.
Laxmi Puja / Gai Tihar
लक्ष्मी पूजा
The main night of Tihar — Amavasya (new moon). Every home is lit with oil lamps and candles to welcome Laxmi, goddess of wealth. Deusi-Bhailo songs echo through streets all night.
Mha Puja — Self-Worship
म्ह पूजा
Newar community's New Year — a deeply personal ritual worshipping one's own soul. The ceremony symbolises care of the self and gratitude for life. Unique to the Newar culture.
Bhai Tika
भाई टीका
Fifth and final day of Tihar — sisters apply a seven-coloured tika on brothers' foreheads and garland them, praying for long life. Brothers give gifts in return. A celebration of sibling bonds.
Chhath Puja
छठ पूजा
Four-day sun-worship festival observed in the Terai. Devotees fast strictly and offer water (arghya) to the rising and setting sun at rivers. Major festival for Madhesi communities.
Mangsirमंसिर
17 Nov – 16 Dec 2025
Vivah Panchami
विवाह पञ्चमी
Commemoration of the divine wedding of Lord Ram and Sita — celebrated with great fervour in Janakpur (Sita's birthplace). Mass wedding processions and recitations of the Ramayana.
Yomari Purnima
योमरी पुन्ही
Newar harvest festival on the full moon of Mangsir. Yomari — sweet steamed rice-flour dumplings filled with molasses and sesame — are made, worshipped and shared to mark the end of harvest.
Poushपुष
17 Dec – 14 Jan 2026
Tamu Lhosar — Gurung New Year
तामु ल्होसार
New Year of the Gurung (Tamu) community — marked with traditional dress, Gurung music (damphu and murchunga), and ritual offerings to the deity Khlye Sowa. A joyful community celebration.
Maghमाघ
15 Jan – 13 Feb 2026
Maghe Sankranti
माघे संक्रान्ति
Magh 1 — the sun enters Capricorn, marking the end of winter's darkest period. Sacred bathing at river confluences (especially Devghat). Traditional foods: sesame seeds, sweet potato, ghee and tharul.
Sonam Lhosar — Tamang New Year
सोनाम ल्होसार
Tamang community's Lunar New Year — celebrated with chhyang (millet beer), traditional Tamang Selo dance, offerings to ancestors and colourful processions through city streets.
Saraswati Puja — Shree Panchami
सरस्वती पूजा
Magh Shukla Panchami — the goddess of knowledge and arts, Saraswati, is worshipped. Students bring books and musical instruments to temples. Marks the arrival of spring (Basant Panchami).
FalgunफागुनThis month
14 Feb – 14 Mar 2026
Maha Shivaratri
महाशिवरात्री
The great night of Lord Shiva — thousands of devotees flock to Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. Sadhus from across South Asia gather. A night of prayer, fasting and sacred chanting.
Gyalpo Lhosar — Sherpa / Tibetan New Year
ग्याल्पो ल्होसार
Tibetan Buddhist New Year celebrated by Sherpa, Tamang and other Buddhist communities. Monasteries hold Cham dances and ceremonies. Families clean homes, prepare special foods and visit temples.
Holi — Fagu Purnima
होली / फागु पूर्णिमा
Festival of colours celebrating the victory of good over evil (Holika Dahan) and the arrival of spring. People throw coloured powder and water. Celebrated a day earlier in the hills than the Terai.
Chaitraचैत
15 Mar – 13 Apr 2026
Ram Navami
राम नवमी
Chaitra Shukla Navami — the birth of Lord Ram. Temples are beautifully decorated, bhajans and Ram-Katha recitations fill the day. Special celebrations at Janaki temple in Janakpur.
Chaite Dashain
चैते दशैं
The spring counterpart of the main Dashain. Goddess Durga is worshipped and tika applied by elders. Particularly important in eastern Nepal and among Gurkha soldiers. Marks the end of BS 2082.