Nepal is the land of festivities, and this is not an understatement. A country of days and deities; various religious days and religious deities are as if the life and blood of the people living here. Not a single month passes without the observance of a festivity of one sort or the other, nor a single locality is there without the site or route of a religious deity. It is estimated that 90 % of the festivals in Nepal have a religious origin. Thus, the festivals quite often begin with religious ceremonies and move up with the spontaneous social spirit and end up with friendly feast and fun. This has been the Nepalese way of celebrating since time immemorial. It is worth mentioning that the same day/festival is sometimes celebrated by the various cultural groups in different socio-cultural contexts, calling it by different names. Here is a comprehensive list of festivals celebrated either nationally or in certain parts of the country by certain ethnoreligious groups. Note: Almost all of the Nepalese festivals follow the lunar calendar, hence the dates of most of the festivals vary every year. Here is the Festival Calendar for the Year 2078 BS.

Festival	When	Where	Why	Public Holiday
Nepali New Year	Baisakh 1 14 April	Nationwide	First day of New Year 2078 BS	Yes
Bisket Jatra Sindur Jatra Bode Jatra	Baisakh 1 14 April (Starts on Chaitra 28, April 10)	Bhaktapur	Bisket Jatra, Sindur Jatra and Bode Jatra celebrated in Bhaktapur district of Kathmandu Valley to commemorate the First day of the Nepalese Year.	Yes
Chaitra Dashain	Baisakh 7 20 April	Nationwide	aka Sano-Dashain or mini Dashain. Celebrated with equal enthusiasm as main Dashain that falls in Autumn.	No
Sri Ram Navami	Baisakh 8 21 April	Nationwide	Celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Ram.	No
Balaju Baisdhara Mela	Baisakh 14 27 April	Kathmandu	People bath under a lined up 22 Stone waterspouts located at Balaju Park in the hopes of protecting oneself from various illness in the coming days.	No
Labour Day	Baisakh 18 1 May	Nationwide	Marks the International Labour Day.	Yes
Mata Tirtha Aunshi/ Aama Ko Mukh Herne Din (Mother’s day)	Baisakh 28 11 May	Nationwide	Children pay homage to their mother and if she’s passed on, a prayer to her spirit is made at Matatirtha Pond on the outskirts of Kathmandu, or at the Pashupatinath Temple.	No
Buddha Jayanti	Jestha 12 May 26	Nationwide	Birth, Enlightenment   & Demise day of Shakyamuni Buddha.	Yes
Dahi Chiura Khane Din	Asadh 15 26 June	Nationwide	Celebrated by eating yoghurt and bitten rice which supposedly cures skin disease. This day is also officially marked as rice planting day. However, rice planting depends upon the arrival of the monsoon.	No
Bhanu Jayanti	Asadh 29 13 July	Nationwide	Celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of the first poet of Nepal, Adikabi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.	No
Harisayani Ekadashi	Shrawan 15 20 July	Nationwide	Aka Thuli Ekadashi, devotees plant Tulsi (the holy basil) on this day and observe fast in the name of Lord Vishnu.	No
Guru Purnima (The Teachers Day)	Shrawan 9 July 24	Nationwide	Paying homage to the teachers. Students and schools organize a special program for their teachers on this day.	No
Guna La Parba begins	Shrawan 25 9 August	Buddhist Newars of Kathmandu	Newar Buddhists recite the scriptures, observe fasts and visit places of worship playing devotional music for one whole month.	No
Naag Panchami	Shrawan 29 13 August	Nationwide	Hindus worship Naag (serpents) whose burrows are unlivable due to overflow of water during monsoon, with a request not to enter their house or harm their family members.	No
Janai Purnima/Rakchya Bandhan	Bhadra 5 22 August	Nationwide	People tie a sacred thread on the wrist for protection, those wearing Janai will change them on this day. It’s also an auspicious day for Shamans of hilly Nepal, plus a day to celebrate siblinghood, sisters tie rakhi bracelet on brothers’ wrist.	Yes
Gai Jatra	Bhadra 6 23 August	Kathmandu valley	People parade in the guise of cows and hermits begging alms from door to door to commemorate the death of loved ones.	Yes, (Kathmandu only)
Shree Krishna Janmashtami	Bhadra 14 30 August	Nationwide	Celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna	Yes
Kushe Aunshi/ Buwa ko Mukh Herne Din (Father’s Day)	Bhadra 22 7 September	Nationwide	Children pay homage to their father and if he’s passed on, a prayer to his spirit is made at Gokarna or at the Pashupatinath Temple.	No
Teej	Bhadra 24 9 September	Nationwide	Married women fast praying for the long life & good health of one’s husband, whereas unmarried fasts in hopes of getting a suitable match like Lord Shiva.	Yes (women only)
Rishi Panchami	Bhadra 26 11 September	Nationwide	Women and also girls who had their menses make a special bath in the mornings and worship the Sapta Rishi (7 Holy Sages) and their wife Arundhati asking forgiveness for the sins they have committed during the 4 days of the monthly cycle.	No
Haribodhini Ekadashi	Asojh 1 17 September	Nationwide	The Tulsi planted on Harisayani Ekadashi is married to Lord Vishnu on this day, and devotees fast all day long.	No
Bishwakarma Puja	Asojh 1 17 September	Nationwide	The birthday of Bishwakarma, This Divine Architect in Hindu Mythology.	No
Indra Jatra	Asojh 3 19 September	Kathmandu valley	The eight-day long Newari festival to worship Lord Indra and his mother Dagini concludes on this day. It is celebrated to ensure the upcoming harvest.	Yes, (Kathmandu only)
Sorah Shraddha	Asojh 5 21 September	Nationwide	This day marks the beginning of sixteen days of Ancestor worship right before Dashain. People perform rites to all the deceased as back as seven generations.	No
Jitiya Parba (Jiwit Putrika)	Asojh 16 29 September	Madhesi Mothers of Terai region	Mothers of Terai region (Southern Nepal) worship God Jitmahan Gosain and fast for 24 hours for the well being of their living Children.	No
Ghatasthapana	Asojh 21 7 October	Nationwide	First day of Dashain Festival. On this day, people plant Jamara seeds that are reaped and given as blessings to junior family members along with tika on the Dashain day. This also marks the beginning of Nauratha or Navaratri, when nine different forms of Goddess Durga is worshipped every day.	Yes
Phulpati (Saptami)	Asojh 26 13 October	Nationwide	Seventh-day of Dashain. People bring in nine different types of Phulpati (flowers and leaves) home to include in the veneration of Saptami puja.	Yes
Maha Ashtami	Asojh 27 14 October	Nationwide	Eighth-day of Dashain. People worship tools and vehicles, sacrifice animals at home and at Goddess Durga temples.	Yes
Maha Navami	Asojh 28 15 October	Nationwide	Ninth-day of Dashain People worship tools and vehicles, sacrifice animals at home and at Goddess Durga temples.	Yes
Dashain/ Bada Dashain/ Vijaya Dashami	Asojh 29 16 October	Nationwide	Tenth-day and main day of Dashain It is a joyous day when families visit each other to receive Tika and Jamara blessings, they make merry by playing cards, singing, dancing while hosting a big feast. Linge Ping (bamboo swing) is very famous in this season. It is believed that mount this Linge ping and one has to untouch the earth on this day.	Yes
Kojagrat Purnima	Kartik 3 20 October	Nationwide	Fifteenth/ concluding day of Dashain. A day to worship Goddess Laxmi (goddess of wealth) and make vigil all night.	No
Dhanteras	Kartik 16 2 November		To commemorate Tihar, the festival of lights, people on this day buy precious metals and worship it on the Laxmi puja day.	No
Kaag Tihar/Kukur tihar	Kartik 17 3 November	Nationwide	The first day of Tihar, the festival of lights. This day involves the worship of crows as they are the messenger of the death-god Yama, and also the dogs that are Yama’s gatekeeper. Usually, Kukur Tihar falls on the second day of Tihar, but due to Tithi overlaps the crows and dogs are worshipped on the same day this year.	No
Laxmi Puja/Gai Tihar	Kartik 18 4 November	Nationwide	It’s the main day of Tihar when cows are worshipped in the mornings to thank for the food essentials they provide. Laxmi the goddess of wealth and fortune is worshipped at night. Houses are cleaned and decked with hopes for Laxmi to stop by and bless the family members.	Yes
Gobardhan Puja	Kartik 19 5 November	Nationwide	People worship Ox for their contribution to the farm throughout the year. This day also commemorates the day when Lord Krishna lifted Gobardhan hill on his pinky finger to save Gopala people from torrential rain.	Yes
Bhaitika	Kartik 20 6 November	Nationwide	Last day of Tihar. It is celebrated to strengthen the siblinghood ties. Sisters on this day perform special worship for brothers’ long and healthy life and also pray to Yama that no brother-sister are separated by death on this day.	Yes
Chhat	Kartik 24 10 November	Terai (Southern Nepal)	The biggest festival in Terai, Southern Nepal involving the worship of the Sun-god and his sister Chhati Mai.	Yes
Guru Nanak Jayanti	Mangshir 3 19 November	Sikhs	Celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru.	Yes
Bala Chaturdashi/ Satbij Charne Din	Mangshir 16 3 December	Nationwide	Bereaved family members observe a ritual in the remembrance of deceased ones. They keep vigil all night and offer satbij (seven varieties of paddy seeds) in a traverse path around the Pashupatinath temple the next day after a holy dip in Bagmati river at the break of dawn.	No
Udhauli Parba Yomari Punhi	Poush 4 19 December	Nationwide	Kiranti clan celebrate Udhauli Parba to commemorate the setting in of the Winter. Newar clan celebrate Yomari Punhi by making a special sweet called Yomari, to mark the end of the harvesting season of the year.	Yes
Christmas	Poush 10 25 December	Nationwide	Celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.	Yes
Tamu Loshar	Poush 15 30 December	Nationwide by Gurungs	A New Year celebration of Gurung Community.	Yes
Tol Loshar	Poush 19 3 January	People of Humla, Dolpa, Mugu and Manang	Tol means Time-cycle. It is one of the oldest Lhosar (New Year) celebrated by the Indigenous community from  Humla, Dolpa, Mugu and Manang districts.	No
Maghe Sankranti/ Maghi	Magh 1 17 January	Nationwide	The first day of the Sun’s transit into Makara Rashi, (Capricorn) marking the end of the month with the winter solstice. A very special day for the Tharu community of Southern Nepal and also the Magars of Hills.	Yes
Sri Swasthani Brata Katha Prarambh	Magh 3 17 January	Kathmandu	This day marks the beginning of a sacred and month-long ritual when devotees read the holy scripture of Goddess Swasthani every day and observe fast.	No
Sonam Loshar	Magh 19 2 February	Tamang Community	A New year celebrated by Tamang Community.	Yes
Basanta Panchami/ Saraswati Puja	Magh 23 26 February	Nationwide	This day officially heralds Spring. Students worship the Goddess of wisdom Saraswati and children of age 3 also learn their first alphabets on this day with the Goddess’ blessings.	No
Sri Swasthani Brata Katha Samapti	Falgun 4 19 February	Kathmandu	A month-long sacred festival of Goddess Swasthani concludes on this day. Devotees break their fast and celibacy with a big ritual.	No
Maha Shiva Ratri	Falgun 17 1 March	Nationwide	Birth anniversary of Lord Shiva. Devotees throng the Pashupatinath temple and other Shiva temples and fast for Him to seek blessings for one’s family.	Yes
Gyalpo Loshar	Falgun 19 3 March	Sherpa Community	A New year celebrated by Sherpa Community.	Yes
Naari Diwas	Falgun 24 8 March	Nationwide	International Women’s Day	Yes
Fagu Purnima/Holi	Chaitra 4 18 March	Hills and Himalayas	Festival of colours/ Spring Festival is celebrated joyously throughout the nation by smearing colours on people’s face and throwing water balloons at each other.	Yes
Fagu Purnima/Holi	Chaitra 5 19 March	Terai Only	Festival of colours/ Spring Festival is celebrated joyously throughout the nation by smearing colours on people’s face and throwing water balloons at each other.	Yes
Ghode Jatra	Chaitra 19 1 April	Kathmandu	Horses are paraded at Tundikhel grounds in presence of the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries. The Newars celebrate it by paying homage to local goddesses and organizing feast in the family.	Yes, (Kathmandu only)
Matshya Jayanti	Chaitra 20 3 April	Nationwide	Celebrated in honour of Matshyendranath, the fish incarnation of Lord Vishnu.	No
Chaitra Dashain	Chaitra 26 9 April	Nationwide	aka Sano-Dashain or mini Dashain. Celebrated with equal enthusiasm as main Dashain that falls in Autumn.	No
Seto Machhendranath Jatra	Chaitra 26 9 April	Kathmandu	The idol of Seto Macchendranath/Avalokiteshwara is paraded through the ancient streets of Kathmandu.	No
Ram Navami	Chaitra 27 10 April	Nationwide	Celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Ram.	No

Feature Photo: Boys decked as cow for Gai Jatra Festival. by Priti thapa