Nepal celebrates a remarkable number of festivals, and whenever you come there's probably one happening. Most are tied to religion or the farming year and include temple fairs, dances and processions. Joining one is the best way to see Nepali life up close. Dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year.
- Dashain (Sept–Oct)
- The biggest and longest festival, often compared to Chinese New Year. Families gather, elders give tika and blessings, and the goddess Durga is honoured for her victory over evil. Bamboo swings go up in the villages.
- Tihar (Oct–Nov)
- The festival of lights, over five days: crows, dogs, the goddess Lakshmi and cows are honoured in turn, and on the last day sisters bless their brothers. Houses glow with oil lamps.
- Holi (March)
- The most joyful festival: people throw coloured powder and water at each other in the streets. Expect to be a target.
- Maha Shivaratri (Feb–March)
- Tens of thousands of pilgrims and sadhus from Nepal and India gather at Pashupatinath for Shiva's great night.
- Nepali New Year (mid-April)
- The Bikram Sambat calendar begins; in Bhaktapur it coincides with Bisket Jatra and its chariot processions.
- Buddha Jayanti (April–May)
- The Buddha's birthday, celebrated especially at Lumbini, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath.
- Rato Machhindranath Jatra (April–May)
- A towering chariot is pulled through Patan over several weeks; it ends with the showing of a jewelled vest, the Bhoto.
- Ghode Jatra (March–April)
- Horse races and displays at Tundikhel in the centre of Kathmandu.
- Janai Purnima (August)
- Hindu men change their sacred thread; everyone ties a protective cord at the wrist.
- Gai Jatra (August)
- Families who lost someone during the year parade with children dressed as cows, with humour and satire. Liveliest in the three royal cities.
- Krishna Janmashtami (Aug–Sept)
- Krishna's birthday; devotees crowd the Krishna temple in Patan Durbar Square all night.
- Teej (Aug–Sept)
- Women's festival: women in red saris fast, dance and pray at Pashupatinath for their husbands' or future husbands' wellbeing.
- Indra Jatra (September)
- Eight days in Kathmandu Durbar Square: the Kumari's chariot procession, masked dances and the raising of Indra's pole.
The Nepali calendar
Nepal officially uses the Bikram Sambat calendar, about 56 years and 8 months ahead of the Gregorian one.
- Baishakh
- mid-April to mid-May
- Jestha
- mid-May to mid-June
- Asar
- mid-June to mid-July
- Shrawan
- mid-July to mid-August
- Bhadra
- mid-August to mid-September
- Ashwin
- mid-September to mid-October
- Kartik
- mid-October to mid-November
- Mangsir
- mid-November to mid-December
- Poush
- mid-December to mid-January
- Magh
- mid-January to mid-February
- Falgun
- mid-February to mid-March
- Chaitra
- mid-March to mid-April