Dashain
Season or date: September-October
The largest 15-day festival honoring goddess Durga. Families gather to receive blessings of tika.
Festivals in Nepal
Discover traditional festivals and celebrations of this country
Festivals
Tihar (Festival of Lights)
Season or date: October-November
A five-day festival equivalent to Diwali, decorating homes and streets with lamps to welcome goddess Lakshmi.
Holi
Season or date: March full moon
A spring festival celebrated with colored powder and water.
Teej
Season or date: Late August-September
A fasting festival where women dance in red attire, praying for their husbands' longevity.
Indra Jatra
Season or date: September
A thanksgiving festival for rain god Indra held in Kathmandu. Features procession of living goddess Kumari's chariot.
Losar
Season or date: Around February
New Year festival for Tibetan, Tamang, and Gurung communities.
Chhath Parva
Season or date: October-November
A waterside ritual where Hindu women from Tarai region pray to the sun god.
Buddha Jayanti
Season or date: April-May full moon
Buddhist event celebrating Buddha's birth. Lumbini and Swayambhunath become crowded.
Gai Jatra
Season or date: August
Cow procession festival mourning departed souls. Known for satirical plays in Newar society.
Maghe Sankranti
Season or date: January 15
New Year for Magar ethnic group.
Public holidays
- Dashain
- Tihar
- Constitution Day (September 20)
- Republic Day (May 28)
- Holi
- Buddha Jayanti