Cultural Festivals & Events

Festivals in Nepal bind people together of diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs into one nation. Most Nepali festivals are related to different Hindu and Buddhist deities and are not merely the annual spectacles, but also are a living part of their rich cultural heritage.

Month Festival
Jan-Feb
  • Seto Machhendranath Snan
  • Swasthani Puja
  • Maghe Sankranti
  • Basanta Panchmi & Saraswati Puja
Feb-March
  • Maha Shivaratri
  • Losar
  • Fagu Purnima or Holi
March-April
  • Chaitra Dasain
  • Ghode Jatra
April-May
  • Bisket Jatra
  • New Year’s Day
  • Red Machhendranath Jatra
  • Buddha Jayanti
July-August
  • Gunla
  • Krishna Astami
  • Janai Purnima
August-Sept
  • Gai Jatra
  • Teej
Sept-Oct
  • Indra Jatra
  • Dasain or Durga Puja
Oct-Nov
  • Mani Rimdu
  • Tihar or Deepali
Nov-Dec
  • Balachaturdarsi
  • Bibah Panchani
  • Yomari Punhi

Basanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja: is a day to celebrate the birthday of Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. It falls between January/February and is regarded as a very auspicious day for marriages too. On this day, people from school students to scholars worship their pens and books to please the Goddess Saraswati. People pray and throng around the idol of Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath and offer flowers, sweets and fruits.

Maha Shivaratri: or the night of Lord Shiva that falls sometime between February/March. On this day more than 100,000 of Hindu devotees from India and Southeast Asia gather around Pashupatinath temple, one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus in Kathmandu.

Holi- Fagu Purnima: is festival of water and colours. It falls between February/March and is also known as “Phagu