Nepali Festivals 2026
Countdown to Teej, Dashain, Tihar, Chhath and more — celebrated by Nepalis across Australia.
Next up
Dashain
दशैं
39
days
10
hours
49
mins
13
secs
Saturday 10 October 2026 · Dates are approximate
Dashain
दशैं · 10 October 2026
39
days
The biggest and most important festival in the Nepali calendar. Spanning 15 days, it celebrates the victory of good over evil. Families come together, elders give tika and jamara to younger members, and special foods are prepared.
How it's celebrated
- →Ghatasthapana — planting barley seeds (Day 1)
- →Fulpati — sacred flowers brought from Gorkha (Day 7)
- →Maha Ashtami — major puja day (Day 8)
- →Vijaya Dashami — tika and jamara from elders (Day 10)
- →Eating sel roti, meat dishes, and sweets together
🇦🇺 In Australia
Community Dashain events are held in most major cities. The Nepali embassy in Canberra also hosts formal Dashain celebrations. Search 'Dashain 2026 [your city]' on Facebook.
Tihar
तिहार · 28 October 2026
57
days
The festival of lights — five days of celebrations honouring crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and brothers. Homes are decorated with oil lamps and colourful lights. Sisters perform puja for their brothers on Bhai Tika.
How it's celebrated
- →Kaag Tihar — offerings for crows (Day 1)
- →Kukur Tihar — garlands and tika for dogs (Day 2)
- →Laxmi Puja — welcoming goddess of wealth with lights (Day 3)
- →Gobardhan Puja — worshipping oxen (Day 4)
- →Bhai Tika — sisters apply tika on brothers (Day 5)
🇦🇺 In Australia
Tihar lights in the community are a beautiful sight. Many Nepali households decorate their homes. Local temples hold Laxmi Puja on the third night — check the Hamro Find events page.
Chhath Puja
छठ पूजा · 3 November 2026
63
days
An ancient Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees fast for 36 hours and offer prayers at sunrise and sunset by a river or body of water. Observed mainly by the Madhesi and Tharu communities.
How it's celebrated
- →Nahay Khay — ritual bath and eating once (Day 1)
- →Kharna — fasting all day, eating kheer at sunset (Day 2)
- →Sandhya Arghya — sunset offerings at the water (Day 3)
- →Usha Arghya — sunrise offerings to break the fast (Day 4)
- →Thekua (traditional sweet) prepared and shared
🇦🇺 In Australia
Chhath Puja gatherings are held at rivers, lakes, and beaches near Nepali communities. Perth's Swan River and Sydney's Parramatta River have seen growing Chhath celebrations in recent years.
Losar
लोसार · 17 February 2027
169
days
The Tibetan and Tamang New Year, celebrated by many Nepali communities including Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, and Tibetan Nepalis. Homes are cleaned, new clothes are worn, and special foods like khapse (fried bread) and chang are prepared.
How it's celebrated
- →Deep cleaning of the home before the new year
- →Wearing new traditional clothing
- →Making khapse (fried bread) and other sweets
- →Buddhist monastery ceremonies and prayers
- →Visiting family and exchanging greetings
🇦🇺 In Australia
The Tibetan Buddhist community in Australia holds Losar ceremonies. Larger cities have Tibetan cultural centres that host celebrations open to all Nepali communities.
Find community festival events near you
Dashain dinners, Tihar celebrations, Teej gatherings — listed on the Hamro Find events page.
Festival dates are approximate and based on the Nepali panchang calendar. Actual dates may vary by one day depending on location and tithi calculation.