Festivals and Public Holidays in Nepal (2024)
Are you looking for a list of festivals and public holidays in Nepal? Here is the ultimate list of Nepalese holidays and festivals!
I have been visiting and periodically living in Nepal since 2015 and have had the chance to celebrate many festivals with my Nepali friends here.
There are many festivals celebrated in Nepal throughout the year, including Hindu and Buddhist holidays. If you happen to be in Nepal during a festival in Nepal, it is really great to get to experience it.
Two of the biggest festivals in Nepal are Dashain and Tihar which are usually celebrated around September-October. Apart from these two, there are many other festivals throughout the year, so here comes the list of Nepalese holidays!
Calendar in Nepal: Bikram Sambat
Nepal follows the Bikram Sambat, which is a lunar calendar following the cycles of the moon. The Bikram Sambat is 57 years ahead of the Gregorian Calendar.
The Nepali New Year is celebrated in April, usually falling on a day around mid-April (depending on the moon cycle). For example, the year 2024 in the Gregorian Calendar corresponds to year 2081 in the Bikram Sambat in Nepal.
Gregorian Calendar and Bikram Sambat Dates
April 2023 – April 2024: Year 2080 in the Bikram Sambat
April 2024 – April 2025: Year 2081 in the Bikram Sambat
List of Public Holidays in Nepal in 2024
| 12 January 2024 | Prithvi Jayanti (Birthday of King Prithvi Narayan Shah who unified Nepal) |
| 10 February 2024 | Sonam Lhosar (Tamang New Year) |
| 14 February 2024 | Saraswati Puja |
| 8 March 2024 | Maha Shivaratri |
| 24 March 2024 | Holi (Festival of Colours) |
| 25 March 2024 | Holi (Festival of Colours) – celebrated on this day in the Terai region of Nepal |
| 13 April 2024 | Nepali New Year (+ Bisket Jatra) |
| 1 May 2024 | International Labour Day |
| 23 May 2024 | Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s Birthday) |
| 19 August 2024 | Raksha Bandhan |
| 20 August 2024 | Gai Jatra (only in Kathmandu Valley) |
| 6 September 2024 | Teej |
| 17 September 2024 | Indra Jatra (only in Kathmandu Valley) |
| 3 October 2024 | Dashain (Ghatasthapana) – First day of Dashain |
| 10 October 2024 | Dashain (Fulpati) |
| 11 October 2024 | Dashain (Maha Ashtami, Maha Nawami) |
| 12 October 2024 | Dashain (Bijaya Dashami) |
| 17 October 2024 | Dashain (Purnima) |
| 31 October 2024 | Tihar (Laxmi Puja, Kukur Tihar) |
| 1 November 2024 | Tihar (Gai Tihar) |
| 2 November 2024 | Tihar (Govardhan Puja, Mha Puja) |
| 3 November 2024 | Tihar (Bhai Tika) |
| 7 November 2024 | Chhat (celebrated mainly in the southern part of Nepal, especially in Janakpur) |
| 15 December 2024 | Yomari Punhi |
| 25 December 2024 | Christmas Day |
| 30 December 2024 | Tamu Lhosar (New Year for Gurung people in Nepal) |
| 1 January 2025 | New Year |
Festivals in Nepal
There are many festivals celebrated in Nepal and if you are unfamiliar with the festivals, it can be hard to know what each celebrates. So here is a quick Nepali festival summary.
Festivals in Nepal in January
Prithvi Jayanti Festival in Nepal
The Prithvi Jayanti festival celebrates the birthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah who unified Nepal. He was the king of the Gorkha Kingdom.
The background history is that Nepal used to be made of many smaller kingdoms and Prithvi Narayan Shah was the king who started the unification process of Nepal. Thus, this day celebrates his birthday.
Festivals in Nepal in February
Sonam Lhosar in Nepal
Sonam Lhosar is the Tamang New Year, celebrated by the Tamang community in Nepal. Although, it is only celebrated by the Tamang community, it is a nation-wide holiday in Nepal. It usually falls on a date in February.
Saraswati Puja in Nepal
Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of Knowledge. On this day, devotees celebrate by worshipping and offering fruits and flowers to Saraswati. On this day, students seek blessings for success in studies.
Festivals in Nepal in March
Maha Shivaratri Festival in Nepal
Maha Shivaratri is a major Hindu festival in Nepal, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It usually falls in February or March and it celebrates the marriage between Lord Shiva and Parvati.
Maha Shivaratra is celebrated at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. The temple is usually crowded with devotees on this day. I once tried to check out the celebrations there but it was so busy with long queues that I decided to turn back.
Holi Festival in Nepal
In the Hindu mythology, Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is a fun festival and in the morning people celebrate it by throwing coloured powder on each others.
The best places to play Holi is by the Durbar Square in Kathmandu (although it can get very crowded) or by Lakeside in Pokhara.
Festivals in Nepal in April
Nepali New Year and Bisket Jatra in Nepal
The Nepali New Year is celebrated in the middle of April and it usually falls around the same date as the Bisket Jatra Festival.
Nepal follows the Bikram Sambat, which is a lunar calendar following the cycles of the moon. An interesting fact is that the Bikram Sambat is 57 years ahead of the Gregorian Calendar. So for example 2024 is the year 2081 in Nepal.
Bhaktapur holds an annual Bisket Jatra festival around the time of the Nepali New Year. It is celebrated by pulling big chariots across Bhaktapur. So if you are in Kathmandu at this time, it is worth checking out Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur.
Festivals in Nepal in May
Buddha Jayanti in Nepal
Buddha Jayanti is the celebration of Buddha’s birthday. It is an important Buddhist holiday and the best place to observe the celebration is in Lumbini, Nepal.
Lumbini is said to be the birthplace of Buddha and on this day many people come to celebrate and offer worship at the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini.
Festivals in Nepal in June
Ropai Festival in Nepal
The Ropai Festival celebrates the rice planting season in Nepal. It usually falls at the end of June. Most of the farmers finish the planting of the rice seeds by this time, and through the celebration, they wish for good rains for the rice seeds.
People play in the muddy rice fields on this day and if you are in the countryside during the Ropai Festival, you will see and may also be invited to join the festival.
Festivals in Nepal in August
Nag Panchami in Nepal
‘Nag’ means snake in Nepali and so Nag Panchami is dedicated to snakes. On this day, devotees offer prayers to snakes in order to be protected from snake bites.
Janai Purnima in Nepal
‘Janai’ is a sacred thread worn by Hindu men and during Janai Purnima they change this thread. The changing of the thread is believed to purify the person and protect from negative influences.
Gai Jatra in Nepal
Gai Jatra is celebrated by a procession of people wearing masks and costumes. People who have lost family members in the past year join the procession. Depending on the lunar calendar, this festival can be in August or September.
Teej Festival in Nepal
The Teej festival is celebrated by women to pray for their husbands’ well-being. In Nepal, once the woman is married, they traditionally move in with their husbands. During Teej, women also return to their parents’ home to celebrate with their mom and sisters.
Depending on the lunar calendar, Teej can fall on a date in August or September.
Shree Krishna Janmashtami in Nepal
Shree Krishna Janmashtami is dedicated to celebrating the birthday of Lord Krishna. Depending on the lunar calendar, this festival can be in August or September.
Festivals in Nepal in September
Indra Jatra in Nepal
The Indra Jatra festival is celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley and is dedicated to Lord Indra and Kumari. Kumari is the living goddess in Kathmandu and during the festival, the Kumari is taken around Kathmandu in a chariot.
The Kathmandu Durbar Square is a good place to experience Indra Jatra.
Festivals in Nepal in October
Dashain Festival in Nepal
Dashain is the biggest festival in Nepal. It’s importance is best described as the “Nepali Christmas” when people travel home to be with their families.
Dashain is 15-days long and usually falls at the end of September or mid-October.
Chhat Festival in Nepal
Chhat is mainly celebrated in the Tarai region of Nepal (southern part), dedicated to the God of Sun, Surya.
The Chhat festival is celebrated by worship ceremonies at sunrise and sunset, and by taking holy dips in rivers.
A good place to celebrate Chhat is in Janakpur, Nepal.
Festivals in Nepal in November
Tihar Festival in Nepal
Tihar is the festival of lights and is the second biggest festival in Nepal. It is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi. It is celebrated by decorating the houses by fairy lights, making rangoli and celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
Festivals in Nepal in December
Yomari Punhi Festival in Nepal
The Yomari Punhi Festival is usually celebrated in Nepal in December. Yomari is a Newari dessert made out of rice flour and filled with either molasses or milky yogurt.
The Yomari Punhi festival celebrates the rice harvest season and is a day spent with eating a lot of yomari.
Hamro Patro: Nepali Mobile App to Check Holidays
Hamro Patro is a Nepali mobile app that you can use to check the public holidays. Although the app is mainly in Nepali, if you check the calendar section, it is partially in English.
All the national holidays are marked in red letter, so it will help you spot the days of public holidays and the corresponding festival.
FAQs: Festivals and Public Holidays in Nepal
How Many Public Holidays Does Nepal Have?
To be honest, it is hard to say. The main public holidays are set each year, however, many times public holidays are announced from one day to the next.
The public holiday list I compiled above corresponds to the official holiday list for 2024, however, from time to time, there could be a spontaneous holiday announced.
What is the Biggest Festival in Nepal?
The biggest festival in Nepal is the Dashain Festival. Dashain celebrates the victory of good over evil.
It is the most important festival and is best described as the Nepali Christmas. It usually falls sometime around October and it is a holiday celebrated within the close family.
What Are the Two Most Celebrated Holidays in Nepal?
The two most celebrated festivals in Nepal are the Dashain and Tihar festivals. The two festivals fall very close to each other, usually making it almost a month-long celebration in Nepal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many holidays in Nepal throughout the year. Two of the most important holidays are Dashain and Tihar that are usually celebrated around October every year.
If you want to keep track of the Nepali holidays, make sure to download the Hamro Patro calendar app (mentioned above), which will show you all the red letter holidays for the year.
