Festivals in Nepal

A tiny country Nepal is not only a land of mountains but also a country full of colorful festivals. People here celebrate many festivals in a year. Onesupen, we have a popular saying that " we celebrate a festival 366 days in a year", which means we have many festivals. The most significant festival for Nepalese Hindus Dashain comes once a year. Similarly, Tihar is also another major festival celebrated after Dashain. Besides, Buddha Jayanti (the celebration of the birth of Buddha); Maha Shivaratri (a festival of Lord Shiva, during Maha Shivaratri festivities, some people consume excessive drinks and smoke charas), ShreePanchami, Nagpanchami, Teej, Maghe Sankranti, JanaiPurnima, Krishnaastami, Chaite Dashain, Kuse Aunsi, Guru Purnima, Mother's day, Father's day, Indra Jatra, Ghode Jatra, Buddha Jayanti, Holi, etc. are major festivals of the country.

 

  • Buddha Jayanti

    Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year during Baishakha Purnima (Full Moon of April or May). On this day people swarm in Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and other Gumba ( Monastery) to pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birthplace ...

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  • Dashain Festival

    Dashain is the biggest festival of Nepal and it is celebrated in the month of Ashwin (late September or early October). It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in Nepal and is celebrated by Nepalese of all castes ...

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  • Dipawali

    Dipawali name Deepawali or Diwali or Tihar, the festival of lights, is the second biggest festival of Nepal and it falls in the month of Kartik (September-October). During this festival, people worship Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. The festival is celebrated ...

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  • Gaijatra

    Nepal is a naturally gifted beautiful country with geographical diversity and is culturally affluent. Almost every day is significant for fasts and festivals in the year. Gaijatra is the most important festival in Nepal. The festival of "Gai Jatra", the ...

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  • Ghode Jatra

    Ghode Jatra, or the Horse Racing Day, falls in the month of Chaitra (late March or early April). A grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel, the central point of the city. According to folklores, this festival is organized to ...

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  • Holi Festival (Phagu Purnima)

    Fagu Purnima is the most popular festival in Nepal with colors friendships and love. This is a festival calling for the spring season. Laterally, Fagu Purnima is a composition of two different words; Phagu (the name of the 11th month ...

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  • Lhosar

    Several indigenous communities in hilly and mountain areas celebrate Lhosar as the New Year festival. Festive activities like singing, dancing, and feasting are observed across the country. Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first ...

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  • Maghe Sankranti

    Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the holy month of Magh, usually mid-January. It brings an end to the ill-omened month of Poush (mid-December) when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Even if it is considered the coldest day of the ...

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  • Shivaratri

    This day is a celebration dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hindus all over the world know Shiva through different names and forms. The country has thousands of idols and monuments, which glorify his name, the most common one being the Shiva ...

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  • Mani Rimdu

    Mani Rimdu is the biggest festival of the year for the Sherpas of the Khumbu region. Sherpas from the Khumbu region congregate at Thyangboche Monastery, the picturesque monastery situated on a spur at 3,870 meters. The three-day celebrations of Mani ...

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  • Nag Panchami

    Nepalese people have great respect for Nagapanchami Day which falls every year on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravan (July) / Shravan Shukla Panchami. This year Nagpanchami falls on 02nd-August. People celebrate this day with great feelings ...

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  • Nepali New Year

    Ideally, New Year celebrates on the occasion of the post time of the current year and welcomes the next Year. Bikram Sambat or Bikram Era is used by the Nepalese Government as the official calendar. Bikram Sambat was established by the ...

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  • Rato Machhendranath Jatra

    This is the longest as well as the most important festival of Patan. It begins with several days of ceremonies and the formation of a wooden-wheeled chariot at Pulchowk, near the Ashoka Stupa in the month of Baisakh (March-April). The ...

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  • Haritalika Teej

    Teej is the fasting festival of women in Nepal. It falls in the month of August or early September. Married women observe Teej fast to honor Lord Shiva and for the long and healthy life of their husbands. Unmarried girls ...

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