Nepal festival calendar

HinduPublished calendars agree

Tihar

Also called Deepawali, Swanti

7 to 11 November 2026. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Hamro Patro's calendar gives the festival days, from Kag Tihar on 7 November to Bhai Tika on 11 November. The government notice sets the public holidays one day later, from 8 to 12 November.

Tihar is Nepal's five-day Hindu festival of lights. Crows, dogs, cows and oxen are honoured on set days, and sisters place tika on their brothers on the last day.

Government offices close for the Tihar holidays, which the notice sets from 8 to 12 November.

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NewarCommunity new yearPublished calendars agree

Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat New Year

Also called Newar New Year

Tue, 10 November 2026. Newar communities, including in Kathmandu.

Mha Puja, or worship of the self, is a Newar ritual held on the first day of the Nepal Sambat year. It falls during Tihar.

The Kathmandu Post says the new year is marked in the morning and Mha Puja in the evening.

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HinduGovernment holiday list

Chhath

Also called Chhath Parwa, Chhath Puja

Sun, 15 November 2026. Southern Nepal, and also Kathmandu.

The government notice gives 15 November as the holiday. Wikipedia describes a four-day festival, so some rituals fall on the days around this date.

Chhath is a Hindu festival with prayers to the sun god, Surya. It's native to southern Nepal and eastern India, and it's also marked in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu worship sites reported in 2024 include Kamal Pokhari, Gaurighat at Guhyeshwari and Kupondole.

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NewarGovernment holiday list

Yomari Punhi

Also called Dhanya Purnima

Thu, 24 December 2026. Newar communities in the Kathmandu Valley.

Yomari Punhi is a Newar full moon festival at the end of the rice harvest. Kathmandu Valley residents worship Annapurna, goddess of crops, and make yomari, a steamed rice-flour dumpling.

The Nepal Tourism Board suggests trying yomari at a local Newari eatery.

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Community new yearGovernment holiday list

Tamu Lhosar

Also called Gurung New Year

Wed, 30 December 2026. Gurung communities across Nepal, including Kathmandu.

Tamu Lhosar is the new year festival of the Gurung people, held on 15 Poush. Families visit monasteries and gather in traditional dress.

The Nepal Tourism Board reports a large gathering at Tundikhel in Kathmandu.

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HinduCommunity new yearGovernment holiday list

Maghe Sankranti

Also called Maghi, Makar Sankranti

Fri, 15 January 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Maghe Sankranti falls on the first day of the month of Magh, and observant Hindus take ritual baths. The Tharu people mark it as the start of their new year.

Sankhamul on the Bagmati River, near Patan, is one of the bathing places.

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Community new yearGovernment holiday list

Sonam Lhosar

Also called Tamang New Year, Sonam Lhochhar

Sun, 7 February 2027. Tamang and Hyolmo communities across Nepal, including Kathmandu.

Sonam Lhosar is the new year festival of the Tamang and Hyolmo people. It usually falls on the first day of the waxing moon in Magh.

Nepal News has reported celebrations at Tundikhel in Kathmandu.

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HinduGovernment holiday list

Basanta Panchami

Also called Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami

Thu, 11 February 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Basanta Panchami is a day to worship Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and learning. Students visit schools and temples to seek her blessing.

The holiday is for educational institutions only. In 2026, families gathered at the Saraswati Temple at Swayambhu.

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HinduGovernment holiday list

Maha Shivaratri

Also called Shivaratri

Sat, 6 March 2027. Across Nepal, centred on Pashupatinath in Kathmandu.

Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival day for Lord Shiva, and Pashupatinath is its main centre in Nepal. Sadhus and pilgrims travel there from Nepal and India.

Expect very large crowds and long entry lines. The main temple at Pashupatinath is for Hindus only.

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Community new yearGovernment holiday list

Gyalpo Lhosar

Also called Gyalpo Losar, Tibetan New Year

Tue, 9 March 2027. Sherpa communities in Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

The government notice, Hamro Patro, qppstudio and CalendarLabs give 9 March. Office Holidays gives 5 March. time.now gives 7 February, which is the date Monlam and qppstudio list for Tibetan Losar, so Tibetan Buddhist events may fall a month earlier than the Nepal holiday. The two also differed in 2024, with the Nepal holiday on 11 March and Losar on 10 February.

Gyalpo Lhosar is the new year festival of the Sherpa people. Onlinekhabar says it falls on the first day of the waxing moon in Falgun. It's also called the Tibetan New Year, though Tibetan calendars can date Losar differently.

In 2025, the Sherpa community in the Kathmandu Valley marked it at Boudhanath, according to Onlinekhabar.

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HinduGovernment holiday list

Holi

Also called Fagu Purnima

21 to 22 March 2027. Kathmandu and the hill districts on 21 March, the Terai on 22 March.

Kathmandu follows the hill date, 21 March. The government notice sets 21 March for 56 hill and mountain districts and 22 March for 21 Terai districts. Office Holidays gives 22 and 23 March, and the Nepali consulate in San Francisco lists only 22 March.

Holi is the Hindu spring festival of colours, called Fagu Purnima in Nepal. People play with colours and water in the streets.

Don't put colour or throw water on anyone against their will. Kathmandu's district office warned against this in 2026.

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NewarGovernment holiday list

Ghode Jatra

Tue, 6 April 2027. Kathmandu Valley.

Ghode Jatra is a horse festival in the Kathmandu Valley, and the Nepali Army stages horse displays at Tundikhel. Legends link it to a demon, named Tundi by Spotlight Nepal and Gurumapa by The Kathmandu Post.

It's a public holiday in the Kathmandu Valley only. The main ceremony is at Tundikhel.

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NewarEstimated date

Bisket Jatra

Also called Biska Jatra

10 to 18 April 2027. Bhaktapur, with related events in Madhyapur Thimi and Bode.

Projected from the 2026 pattern. News On AIR says it starts four days before Nepali New Year and runs nine days.

Bisket Jatra is a nine-day Newar festival in Bhaktapur, around the Nepali New Year. Rival sides of the city pull chariots through narrow lanes.

Onlinekhabar reported 19 people injured in 2021, so watch the chariots from a safe distance.

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NationalPublished calendars agree

Nepali New Year

Also called Naya Barsha, Baishakh 1

Wed, 14 April 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Nepali New Year is the first day of Baishakh, the start of the Bikram Sambat calendar year. The year 2084 begins on this date.

Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur is observed on this day too, according to Ratopati.

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HinduPublished calendars agree

Ram Navami

Also called Ram Nawami

Thu, 15 April 2027. Across Nepal, with large gatherings in Janakpur.

Ram Navami marks the birth of Lord Ram on the ninth day of the waxing moon in Chaitra. Devotees fast, pray and recite the Ramayana.

Nepal Traveller says the hilltop Ram temple near Battisputali in Kathmandu is generally busy on this day.

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BuddhistPublished calendars agree

Buddha Jayanti

Thu, 20 May 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Buddha Jayanti is the Buddhist festival marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. It falls on a full moon, and the main valley gatherings are at Swayambhunath and Boudhanath.

Devotees arrive from early morning, so expect crowds at both stupas.

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HinduPublished calendars agree

Janai Purnima

Also called Raksha Bandhan

Tue, 17 August 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

On Janai Purnima, devotees change their sacred thread after a ritual bath, and protective threads are tied on the wrist. Newar families share kwati, a nine-bean soup.

A fair is held at Kumbheshwar Temple in Patan each year, and the temple gets crowded.

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HinduNewarPublished calendars agree

Gai Jatra

Also called Sa Paru

Wed, 18 August 2027. Kathmandu Valley, with longer celebrations in Bhaktapur.

Gai Jatra, the festival of cows, remembers people who died in the past year. Families send processions through the streets, often with children dressed as cows.

Processions remember family members who have died, so give them space. It's a holiday in the Kathmandu Valley.

Read our guide: Gai Jatra in Kathmandu and BhaktapurAdd to Google CalendarDownload calendar file

HinduPublished calendars agree

Krishna Janmashtami

Also called Gokulashtami

Wed, 25 August 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth of the Hindu god Krishna. Devotees gather at Krishna temples across the country.

Thousands of devotees visit Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square, so expect crowds there.

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HinduPublished calendars agree

Teej

Also called Haritalika Teej

Fri, 3 September 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Teej is a festival of women across Nepal, with red saris, dancing and a long fast. The Nepal Tourism Board says it lasts three days. This is the date calendars list as Haritalika Teej.

In 2026, women began queuing at Pashupatinath from as early as 3 am.

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HinduBuddhistNewarPublished calendars agree

Indra Jatra

Tue, 14 September 2027. Kathmandu, centred on Kathmandu Durbar Square.

CalendarLabs, qppstudio and Office Holidays give 14 September as the main day. The Longest Way Home gives 25 September, but its 2026 date of 6 September doesn't match the government notice, which gave 25 September, so we don't rely on it. The festival lasts about eight days and starts before this main day.

Indra Jatra is a street festival in Kathmandu that lasts about eight days. Chariots carry the living goddess Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav through the old city.

Traffic is restricted along the chariot route through the old city, so allow extra time.

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HinduSources differ

Dashain

Also called Vijaya Dashami

30 September to 12 October 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

time.now gives the main day, Vijaya Dashami, as 9 October. CalendarLabs, Office Holidays and Drik Panchang for Kathmandu give 10 October. This range stops at the last listed holiday, 11 or 12 October. Wikipedia describes a 15-day festival ending at the full moon, and Drik Panchang lists day 15 on 14 October.

Dashain is Nepal's longest Hindu festival, and many Hindus link it to the goddess Durga's defeat of the demon Mahishasura. Many families go home for it, but some indigenous communities choose not to mark it.

Many shops close and travel is very busy. About 1 million people were expected to leave the valley by road in 2026, so book early.

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HinduEstimated date

Tihar

Also called Deepawali, Swanti

27 to 31 October 2027. Across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.

CalendarLabs, time.now and Office Holidays list Laxmi Puja on 29 October and Bhai Tika on 31 October. Only Drik Panchang gives the first day, Kag Tihar, on 27 October. Hamro Patro hasn't published 2084 yet.

Tihar is Nepal's five-day Hindu festival of lights. Crows, dogs, cows and oxen are honoured on set days, and sisters place tika on their brothers on the last day.

Calendars list public holidays around Laxmi Puja and Bhai Tika, so check closures close to your trip.

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NewarCommunity new yearEstimated date

Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat New Year

Also called Newar New Year

Sat, 30 October 2027. Newar communities, including in Kathmandu.

time.now lists Mha Pooja on 30 October. CalendarLabs and Office Holidays list Govardhan Puja that day, and Hamro Patro's 2026 list puts the two on one date. Hamro Patro hasn't published 2084 yet.

Mha Puja, or worship of the self, is a Newar ritual held on the first day of the Nepal Sambat year. It falls during Tihar.

The Kathmandu Post says the new year is marked in the morning and Mha Puja in the evening.

Read our guide: Tihar in KathmanduAdd to Google CalendarDownload calendar file

HinduPublished calendars agree

Chhath

Also called Chhath Parwa, Chhath Puja

Thu, 4 November 2027. Southern Nepal, and also Kathmandu.

Calendars list 4 November as the holiday. Wikipedia describes a four-day festival, so some rituals fall on the days around this date.

Chhath is a Hindu festival with prayers to the sun god, Surya. It's native to southern Nepal and eastern India, and it's also marked in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu worship sites reported in 2024 include Kamal Pokhari, Gaurighat at Guhyeshwari and Kupondole.

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NewarEstimated date

Yomari Punhi

Also called Dhanya Purnima

Mon, 13 December 2027. Newar communities in the Kathmandu Valley.

CalendarLabs and Office Holidays list Udhauli Parva on 13 December. No calendar we opened names Yomari Punhi for 2027, but the government notice put both on the same full moon in 2026.

Yomari Punhi is a Newar full moon festival at the end of the rice harvest. Kathmandu Valley residents worship Annapurna, goddess of crops, and make yomari, a steamed rice-flour dumpling.

The Nepal Tourism Board suggests trying yomari at a local Newari eatery.

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Community new yearPublished calendars agree

Tamu Lhosar

Also called Gurung New Year

Thu, 30 December 2027. Gurung communities across Nepal, including Kathmandu.

Tamu Lhosar is the new year festival of the Gurung people, held on 15 Poush. Families visit monasteries and gather in traditional dress.

The Nepal Tourism Board reports a large gathering at Tundikhel in Kathmandu.

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