Festivals in Nepal

Dates move every year

Most festivals in Nepal follow the lunar calendar, so their dates in the Western calendar change from year to year, sometimes by several weeks. A few, such as Nepali New Year and Maghe Sankranti, follow the solar calendar and fall on about the same dates. Check the dates for your year with the Nepal Tourism Board or a current Nepali calendar.

Festival calendar

Approximate timing of the main festivals:

Dashain

Dashain lasts about fifteen days and celebrates the goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Families gather, elders place tika (rice, yoghurt and red powder) on the foreheads of younger relatives, children fly kites and bamboo swings go up in villages.

Almost everyone travels home, so buses and flights are full before and after the main days, and many offices and shops close. Book transport well ahead.

Tihar

Tihar, also called Deepawali, lasts five days. Crows, dogs and cows are honoured on successive days, homes are lit with oil lamps and garlands of marigold, and Laxmi, goddess of wealth, is welcomed. On the last day, Bhai Tika, sisters bless their brothers with seven-colour tika, recalling the story of Yamuna protecting her brother from Yama, god of death.

The jatras of the valley

Indra Jatra in Kathmandu brings masked dances to Durbar Square, and the Kumari is carried through the old town on her chariot. Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur, around Nepali New Year, sees two chariots pulled against each other by the upper and lower halves of the town, and a tall pole raised and brought down. Rato Machhindranath, the rain god's chariot procession in Patan, runs for weeks in spring. Gai Jatra, after the August full moon, sees processions of families who lost someone that year, and a tradition of satire.

Mountain festivals

Mani Rimdu is held at Tengboche and other Khumbu monasteries, usually in October or November, with masked dances. Tiji in Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, usually in May, is a three-day ritual of masked dances. Both follow the Tibetan calendar, so confirm dates before planning a trek around them.

Visiting during festivals

A few tips for festival time:

• Be a respectful guest: ask before photographing rituals and stay out of the way of processions.
• At Holi, wear clothes you do not mind ruining and protect your eyes and phone.
• Animal sacrifice is part of some Dashain rituals; be aware if you visit temples on the main days.
• Expect closures of offices and some shops, and fuller transport, around Dashain and Tihar.