Festivals in the Kathmandu Valley

Most valley festivals follow lunar calendars, so dates move each year. These guides explain what happens, where to see it and how it affects your plans. For upcoming dates, open the Nepal festival calendar.

A tall festival chariot surrounded by a dense crowd between pagodas in Bhaktapur during Bisket Jatra
Bisket Jatra, Bhaktapur

Festival guides

  • Tiered gold temple roofs at Pashupatinath above white shrines, with a large crowd below

    Maha Shivaratri at Pashupatinath

    Shivaratri at Pashupatinath falls on 6 March 2027 in Nepali calendars. Expect 800,000 or more pilgrims, long queues and sadhus. What visitors should know.

  • Tiered temple roofs in Kathmandu under a wide sky of broken cloud

    Holi in Kathmandu

    Holi in Nepal 2027 is listed for 21 March in Kathmandu, with the Terai on 22 March. Sources differ. Dates, places, consent rules and traffic checks.

  • A tall festival chariot surrounded by a dense crowd between pagodas in Bhaktapur during Bisket Jatra

    Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur

    Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur should run about 10 to 18 April 2027, around Nepali New Year on 14 April. The day-by-day schedule, safety record and visitor advice.

  • The white dome and gold spire of Boudhanath stupa with long strings of prayer flags, and people walking on the platform

    Buddha Jayanti in Kathmandu

    Buddha Jayanti 2027 is listed for Thursday 20 May. What happens at Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, how to behave, and what we couldn't confirm on traffic.

  • A Lakhey dancer in a red mask and long dark hair, arms raised, in front of tiered temple roofs

    Indra Jatra in Kathmandu

    Indra Jatra is listed for 14 September 2027, though one guide says 25 September. Kumari chariots, masked dances, road closures and how visitors should behave.

  • Tiered temple roofs with red cloth trim and pigeons flying over them in old Kathmandu

    Dashain in Kathmandu

    Dashain 2027 starts about 30 September, with the main tika day on 9 or 10 October as sources differ. What closes, travel rush, Taleju temple and sacrifices.

  • A brown dog sitting in a doorway wearing a marigold garland for the Kukur Tihar festival

    Tihar in Kathmandu

    Tihar festival runs 7 to 11 November 2026, with Laxmi Puja on 8 November. In 2027, Laxmi Puja is 29 October and Bhai Tika 31 October. The five days explained.

  • Tall decorated bamboo tahasa poles carried through a crowded square in Bhaktapur during Gai Jatra

    Gai Jatra in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur

    Gai Jatra is listed for 18 August 2027. Cow processions for families who lost someone, satire, Bhaktapur's longer festival, road closures and how to behave.

  • Mounted Nepal Army cavalry in red ceremonial uniforms and plumed helmets in Kathmandu

    Ghode Jatra in Kathmandu

    Ghode Jatra falls on 6 April 2027, a Kathmandu Valley holiday. The Tundikhel horse parade, the Gurumapa legend, where the public can watch, and traffic.

Plan your day in the Kathmandu Valley

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