Religious Festivals of Nepal

Explore the rich cultural and religious heritage of Nepal through its diverse festivals — from Dashain and Tihar to Buddha Jayanti and Lhosar.

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Dashain

दशैँ

🕉️ Hindu📅 Ashwin/Kartik

The biggest and longest Hindu festival in Nepal, celebrating the victory of good over evil.

Tihar

तिहार

🕉️ Hindu📅 Kartik

The festival of lights, celebrating the relationship between humans and animals, and worshipping Goddess Laxmi.

Maha Shivaratri

महाशिवरात्रि

🕉️ Hindu📅 Falgun

The great night of Lord Shiva, observed with fasting and night-long vigils.

Holi

होली

🕉️ Hindu📅 Falgun

The festival of colors, celebrating the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.

Krishna Janmashtami

कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Bhadra

Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Ram Navami

राम नवमी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Chaitra

Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Haritalika Teej

हरितालिका तीज

🕉️ Hindu📅 Bhadra

A festival celebrated by Hindu women, who fast and pray for the well-being of their husbands.

Chhath

छठ

🕉️ Hindu📅 Kartik

A festival dedicated to the Sun God, celebrated in the Terai region.

Janai Purnima

जनै पूर्णिमा

🕉️ Hindu📅 Shrawan/Bhadra

Also known as Raksha Bandhan, this festival involves changing the sacred thread.

Nag Panchami

नाग पञ्चमी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Shrawan

A festival dedicated to the worship of serpents or Nagas.

Maghe Sankranti

माघे सङ्क्रान्ति

🕉️ Hindu📅 Magh

Marks the beginning of the auspicious month of Magh and the end of winter.

Gai Jatra

गाई जात्रा

🕉️ Newar📅 Bhadra

A Newar festival honoring deceased loved ones, with processions of cows or children in cow costumes.

Indra Jatra

इन्द्र जात्रा

🕉️ Newar📅 Ashwin

A major Newar festival in Kathmandu, celebrating the god of rain, Indra.

Bisket Jatra

बिस्केट जात्रा

🕉️ Newar📅 Baisakh

Celebrated in Bhaktapur, this festival marks the Nepalese New Year.

Rato Machhindranath Jatra

रातो मच्छिन्द्रनाथ जात्रा

🕉️ Buddhist / Newar📅 Baisakh

The longest chariot festival in Nepal, dedicated to the god of rain and harvest.

Seto Machhindranath Jatra

सेतो मच्छिन्द्रनाथ जात्रा

🕉️ Buddhist / Newar📅 Chaitra

A chariot festival in Kathmandu, honoring the white Machhindranath.

Ghode Jatra

घोडे जात्रा

🕉️ Newar📅 Chaitra

The horse festival, celebrated with horse parades and races at Tundikhel.

Yomari Punhi

योमरी पुन्ही

🕉️ Newar📅 Margashirsha

A Newar festival celebrating the harvest, where Yomari (steamed rice cakes) are prepared.

Buddha Jayanti

बुद्ध जयन्ती

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Baisakh

Commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha.

Lhosar

ल्होसार

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Magh/Falgun

The Tibetan New Year celebrated by Sherpa, Tamang, and other Himalayan communities.

Gunla

गुँला

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Shrawan

A sacred month for Buddhists, observed with fasting, prayer, and religious music.

Mani Rimdu

मणि रिम्दु

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Kartik

A Sherpa festival celebrated at Tengboche Monastery with masked dances and rituals.

Ubhauli & Udhauli

उभौली र उधौली

🕉️ Kirat📅 Baisakh & Mangsir

Kirat festivals marking the migration of birds and animals (upwards and downwards).

Sakela

साकेला

🕉️ Kirat📅 Baisakh & Mangsir

The main festival of the Kirat people, celebrated with the Sakela dance.

Eid al-Fitr

ईद उल-फित्र

🕉️ Muslim📅 Ramadan (Lunar)

Marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.

Eid al-Adha

ईद उल-अजहा

🕉️ Muslim📅 Dhu al-Hijjah (Lunar)

The Festival of Sacrifice, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son.

Christmas

क्रिसमस

🕉️ Christian📅 Poush

Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Good Friday

गुड फ्राइडे

🕉️ Christian📅 Chaitra

Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Maghi

माघी

🕉️ Tharu📅 Magh

The biggest festival of the Tharu community, marking the new year.

Soharai

सोहराई

🕉️ Tharu📅 Kartik

The Tharu equivalent of Tihar, where they worship their cattle and ancestors.

Chhath (Tharu)

छठ (थारू)

🕉️ Tharu📅 Kartik

The Tharu community's version of Chhath, dedicated to the Sun God.

Jitiya

जितिया

🕉️ Tharu📅 Ashwin

A fasting festival observed by Tharu women for the well-being of their children.

Nepali New Year

नयाँ वर्ष

🕉️ National📅 Baisakh

The first day of the Bikram Sambat calendar, celebrated nationwide.

Republic Day

गणतन्त्र दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Jestha

Celebrates the establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Democracy Day

प्रजातन्त्र दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Falgun

Commemorates the establishment of democracy in Nepal in 1951.

Constitution Day

संविधान दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Ashwin

Marks the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal in 2015.

Martyrs' Day

शहिद दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Magh

Honors the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for democracy in Nepal.

Chaite Dashain

चैते दशैँ

🕉️ Hindu📅 Chaitra

A smaller version of Dashain, celebrated in the month of Chaitra.

Gaura Parva

गौरा पर्व

🕉️ Hindu📅 Bhadra

A festival celebrated in the Far-Western region, dedicated to Goddess Gauri.

Bala Chaturdashi

बाला चतुर्दशी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Mangsir

A festival to remember and honor deceased family members.

Shree Panchami

श्री पञ्चमी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Magh

Also known as Basanta Panchami, it marks the beginning of spring and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.

Kuse Aunsi

कुशे औंसी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Bhadra

Father's Day in Nepal, where people offer prayers for their deceased fathers.

Mata Tirtha Aunsi

माता तीर्थ औंसी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Baisakh

Mother's Day in Nepal, where people honor their mothers, both living and deceased.

Naga Panchami

नाग पञ्चमी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Shrawan

A festival dedicated to the worship of serpents or Nagas.

Kushe Aunsi

कुशे औंसी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Bhadra

Father's Day in Nepal, where people offer prayers for their deceased fathers.

Ekadashi

एकादशी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Every Lunar Fortnight

A fasting day observed twice a month by Hindus.

Purnima

पूर्णिमा

🕉️ Hindu📅 Every Lunar Month

The full moon day, considered auspicious for prayers and rituals.

Aunsi

औंसी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Every Lunar Month

The new moon day, observed with rituals for ancestors.

Sankranti

सङ्क्रान्ति

🕉️ Hindu📅 Every Solar Month

The first day of a solar month, considered auspicious for holy baths and charity.

Gokarna Aunsi

गोकर्ण औंसी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Bhadra

Father's Day, where people worship their fathers and offer prayers.

Bhimsen Puja

भीमसेन पूजा

🕉️ Newar📅 Bhadra

A Newar festival honoring Bhimsen, the god of strength and commerce.

Sithi Nakha

सिथि नखः

🕉️ Newar📅 Jestha

A Newar festival celebrating the cleaning of water sources and wells.

Mha Puja

म्ह पूजा

🕉️ Newar📅 Kartik

A Newar festival celebrating the self and the New Year.

Bala Chaturdashi (Newar)

बाला चतुर्दशी (नेवार)

🕉️ Newar📅 Mangsir

A Newar festival to remember and honor deceased family members.

Gathan Muga

गथां मुगः

🕉️ Newar📅 Shrawan

A Newar festival where effigies of demons are made and burnt to ward off evil.

Sikali Jatra

सिकाली जात्रा

🕉️ Newar📅 Kartik

A Newar festival celebrated in Khokana with masked dances and chariot processions.

Kartik Jatra

कार्तिक जात्रा

🕉️ Newar📅 Kartik

A Newar festival celebrated in Khokana with traditional music and dance.

Paha Charhey

पाहाँ चरे

🕉️ Newar📅 Kartik

A Newar festival where people worship their tools and implements.

Udhauli

उधौली

🕉️ Kirat📅 Mangsir

A Kirat festival marking the migration of birds and animals to lower altitudes.

Maghi (Tharu)

माघी (थारू)

🕉️ Tharu📅 Magh

The Tharu New Year, celebrated with great enthusiasm and community feasts.

Holi (Tharu)

होली (थारू)

🕉️ Tharu📅 Falgun

The Tharu community celebrates Holi with traditional songs and dances.

Prithvi Jayanti

पृथ्वी जयन्ती

🕉️ National📅 Poush

Commemorates the birth anniversary of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the unifier of Nepal.

International Women's Day

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय नारी दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Falgun

Celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

Labour Day

श्रमिक दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Baisakh

Honors the contributions of workers and the labor movement.

Children's Day

बाल दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Bhadra

Celebrates the rights and well-being of children.

Teacher's Day

शिक्षक दिवस

🕉️ National📅 Shrawan

Honors the contributions of teachers to education and society.

Ghanta Karna

घण्टा कर्ण

🕉️ Hindu📅 Shrawan

A festival where effigies of the demon Ghanta Karna are burnt to ward off evil.

Guru Purnima

गुरु पूर्णिमा

🕉️ Hindu📅 Ashad

A day dedicated to honoring spiritual and academic teachers.

Akshaya Tritiya

अक्षय तृतीया

🕉️ Hindu📅 Baisakh

An auspicious day for starting new ventures and making purchases.

Ganesh Chaturthi

गणेश चतुर्थी

🕉️ Hindu📅 Bhadra

Celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.

Vishwakarma Puja

विश्वकर्मा पूजा

🕉️ Hindu📅 Ashwin

Worship of Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect and engineer.

Govardhan Puja

गोवर्धन पूजा

🕉️ Hindu📅 Kartik

Celebrates the lifting of Govardhan Hill by Lord Krishna.

Bhai Tika

भाई टिका

🕉️ Hindu📅 Kartik

A day when sisters apply tika to their brothers for long life and prosperity.

Kartik Naach

कार्तिक नाच

🕉️ Newar📅 Kartik

A traditional masked dance performed in Patan during the month of Kartik.

Laxmi Puja

लक्ष्मी पूजा

🕉️ Hindu📅 Kartik

Worship of Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Govardhan Puja (Newar)

गोवर्धन पूजा (नेवार)

🕉️ Newar📅 Kartik

The Newar community celebrates Govardhan Puja with traditional rituals.

Chhath Puja

छठ पूजा

🕉️ Hindu📅 Kartik

A major festival dedicated to the Sun God, celebrated with great devotion.

Buddha Purnima

बुद्ध पूर्णिमा

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Baisakh

The full moon day commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Buddha.

Losar

लोसार

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Magh/Falgun

The Tibetan New Year, celebrated by Sherpa, Tamang, and other Himalayan communities.

Tamu Lhosar

तमु ल्होसार

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Poush

The New Year of the Gurung community, celebrated with traditional dances and feasts.

Sonam Lhosar

सोनाम ल्होसार

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Magh

The New Year of the Tamang community, celebrated with cultural programs.

Gyalpo Lhosar

ग्याल्पो ल्होसार

🕉️ Buddhist📅 Falgun

The Sherpa New Year, celebrated with traditional dances and prayers.

Milad un-Nabi

मिलाद उन-नबी

🕉️ Muslim📅 Rabi' al-awwal (Lunar)

Commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

Easter

इस्टर

🕉️ Christian📅 Chaitra

Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.