Nepali Festival Calendar
Explore major cultural festivals, public holidays, and auspicious celebrations in Nepal.
Explore the Nepali Festivals Calendar
Discover festivals, cultural celebrations, religious occasions, and important holidays observed across Nepal. Explore festival dates and learn more about the traditions that make Nepal culturally rich and diverse.
Explore Festival CalendarNepal is home to a remarkable variety of festivals and celebrations. Throughout the year, communities across the country observe religious occasions, seasonal events, traditional celebrations, and national holidays. These festivals bring families together, preserve cultural heritage, and reflect the country’s diverse traditions.
The Nepali Festivals Calendar on WriteNepali helps you explore important festivals and celebrations according to the Nepali calendar. You can browse the available festival listings, use the category filter, and check the details provided for individual occasions.
Whether you are planning a family celebration, preparing for a holiday, learning about Nepali traditions, or simply checking upcoming events, this calendar offers a convenient place to explore festival information.
What Is a Nepali Festivals Calendar?
A Nepali Festivals Calendar is a calendar-based guide to important festivals, cultural events, religious observances, and holidays celebrated in Nepal. It helps people understand when different occasions take place and provides a convenient way to explore celebrations throughout the year.
Many Nepali festivals follow the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar. Some dates are associated with particular lunar phases or traditional calendar calculations, while others are connected to seasonal or solar-calendar events.
Because festival dates can change from one year to another, checking the relevant year’s calendar is important. A festival that falls in one BS month this year may occur on a different date or even in a different Gregorian month in another year.
Major Festivals Celebrated in Nepal
Nepal celebrates festivals representing Hindu, Buddhist, Kirat, Muslim, Christian, and many other cultural and religious traditions. The following are some widely recognized festivals and celebrations.
One of Nepal’s major Hindu festivals, Dashain is associated with family gatherings, blessings, tika, jamara, and the celebration of the victory of good over evil.
Also known as Deepawali in Nepal, Tihar is a multi-day festival that includes the worship of crows, dogs, cows, and Goddess Laxmi, followed by Bhai Tika.
The festival of colors is celebrated with colored powder, water, music, and gatherings. Its observance may take place on different dates in different regions.
Chhath is a major festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God. Devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising sun, particularly in the Terai region.
Haritalika Teej is an important festival observed by many Hindu women, featuring fasting, prayers, traditional clothing, music, and gatherings.
This full-moon occasion is associated with the changing of the sacred thread, Raksha Bandhan traditions, and other community-specific observances.
This festival celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna through prayers, devotional songs, temple visits, and religious activities.
Buddha Jayanti commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Gautama Buddha. It is observed with prayers and peaceful gatherings.
Observed at the beginning of Magh, this seasonal festival is associated with sacred bathing, traditional foods, and community celebrations.
Gai Jatra is an important Newar cultural festival, especially in the Kathmandu Valley, remembering deceased family members through processions and traditional performances.
This historic festival in Kathmandu features traditional chariot processions, masked dances, religious ceremonies, and cultural performances.
Losar marks the New Year in several Himalayan communities. Different communities, including Tamang, Gurung, and Tibetan Buddhist groups, observe their own Losar traditions.
Explore Festivals by Category
Festival categories make it easier to discover occasions based on their cultural, religious, or national significance. Depending on the available listings, you may find festivals from several different traditions.
Explore occasions such as Dashain, Tihar, Teej, Janai Purnima, Krishna Janmashtami, and other Hindu celebrations.
Discover Buddhist observances such as Buddha Jayanti, Lhosar celebrations, and important religious occasions.
Learn about community celebrations and cultural events such as Sakela, Ubhauli, Udhauli, and other traditional observances.
Find important national occasions, commemorative days, and celebrations recognized across Nepal.
Explore celebrations associated with particular regions, communities, and local cultural traditions.
Discover selected international days and celebrations observed by people and organizations in Nepal.
Not every festival is celebrated in every part of Nepal. Some occasions are specific to certain communities, regions, or religious groups. The category and festival details can help you understand their context.
Understanding the Nepali Calendar (Bikram Sambat)
The Bikram Sambat calendar, commonly known as BS, is widely used in Nepal for official records, cultural events, religious occasions, and everyday date references.
The Nepali calendar has 12 months:
| Month No. | Nepali Month | Common English Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | वैशाख | Baisakh |
| 2 | जेठ | Jestha |
| 3 | असार | Ashadh |
| 4 | साउन | Shrawan |
| 5 | भदौ | Bhadra |
| 6 | असोज | Ashwin |
| 7 | कार्तिक | Kartik |
| 8 | मंसिर | Mangsir |
| 9 | पुष | Poush |
| 10 | माघ | Magh |
| 11 | फागुन | Falgun |
| 12 | चैत | Chaitra |
The number of days in a Nepali month can vary according to the calendar year. This is why festival dates should be checked against the appropriate year’s calendar rather than estimated from a previous year’s dates.
Why Do Nepali Festival Dates Change Every Year?
Many Nepali festivals are determined using traditional lunar calendars, religious calculations, and specific astronomical or seasonal events. As a result, their Gregorian dates do not remain fixed every year.
For example, Dashain, Tihar, Holi, and Chhath are associated with particular lunar-calendar dates or observances. Their corresponding AD dates can shift from one year to the next.
Other celebrations are linked more closely to seasonal or solar-calendar dates. Their timing may be more consistent in the BS calendar, although the corresponding Gregorian date can still require checking.
How to Use the Nepali Festivals Calendar
Use the interactive calendar above to explore the available festivals and celebrations.
Visit the Nepali Festivals Calendar section on this page.
Use the category selection field to filter the festival listings, if a category is available.
Explore the festivals displayed in the calendar and identify the occasion you want to check.
Open or review the available festival information to understand its date and significance.
If the festival list does not appear immediately, use the Refresh Festival List option and allow the calendar to load. Availability of individual details depends on the festival data included in the calendar.
Popular Festival Seasons in Nepal
Festivals take place throughout the Nepali year. Some periods are especially known for major celebrations and family gatherings.
Spring Celebrations
Spring includes occasions such as Nepali New Year, Buddha Jayanti, and Holi, depending on the year’s calendar. These celebrations reflect renewal, religious traditions, and community life.
Monsoon and Late Summer Celebrations
Janai Purnima, Gai Jatra, Krishna Janmashtami, Teej, and other community celebrations may occur during this period. Observances differ according to religious traditions and regional practices.
Autumn Festival Season
Autumn is one of the most important festival seasons in Nepal. Dashain and Tihar are major highlights, alongside regional and community-specific celebrations.
Winter Celebrations
Winter includes occasions such as Maghe Sankranti, different Losar celebrations, and other seasonal and religious observances.
Festivals and Public Holidays: Are They the Same?
A festival and a public holiday are related, but they are not always the same thing. A festival is a cultural, religious, or community celebration. A public holiday is an officially designated day when particular government offices, institutions, or workplaces may remain closed.
Some festivals are recognized as nationwide public holidays, while others may have holidays only for specific communities, regions, or groups. The applicable rules can also vary by year and official government notice.
How to Plan Around Nepali Festivals
Checking festival dates in advance can make it easier to organize personal activities, family gatherings, travel, and business schedules.
- Check upcoming festival dates before booking travel tickets.
- Plan family gatherings and celebrations in advance.
- Check official public holiday notices before scheduling office work.
- Confirm regional celebrations if you are travelling to another part of Nepal.
- Prepare shopping and business schedules around major festival periods.
- Check the correct BS year when using dates from older calendars.
- Verify religious observances with the relevant community or authoritative calendar when exact timing matters.
Related Nepali Calendar Tools
Explore more useful calendar tools from WriteNepali:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Nepali Festivals Calendar?
The Nepali Festivals Calendar is an online calendar that helps users explore festivals, religious occasions, cultural celebrations, and holidays observed in Nepal.
2. Can I find festival dates in the Bikram Sambat calendar?
The calendar is designed for exploring Nepali festival information. Check the available listing details for BS dates and other date information provided for each occasion.
3. Why do Nepali festival dates change every year?
Many festivals follow lunar-calendar calculations or specific religious and astronomical observances. Their Gregorian dates can therefore change from year to year.
4. What are the biggest festivals in Nepal?
Dashain and Tihar are among Nepal’s major festivals. Other important celebrations include Holi, Chhath, Teej, Buddha Jayanti, Maghe Sankranti, Janai Purnima, and various community festivals.
5. Does Nepal have festivals throughout the year?
Yes. Festivals and cultural celebrations take place throughout the Nepali calendar year, although some months and seasons have more widely recognized celebrations than others.
6. Are all Nepali festivals public holidays?
No. Some festivals are nationwide public holidays, while others are recognized for particular communities, regions, or groups. Check the applicable official holiday notice for confirmation.
7. Can I filter festivals by category?
The WriteNepali calendar includes a festival-category selection field. Use it to filter the available festival listings according to the categories provided by the calendar.
8. Which calendar is commonly used in Nepal?
Bikram Sambat (BS) is widely used in Nepal for official records, everyday date references, cultural events, and many festival observances.
9. What is the difference between BS and AD dates?
BS refers to the Bikram Sambat calendar, while AD refers to the Gregorian calendar. They use different year numbering and calendar structures, so a date must be converted using the appropriate calendar data.
10. Can I use the calendar to plan festival holidays?
Yes. It can help you explore festival dates and plan personal activities. However, verify official public holidays separately before making work or travel arrangements that depend on office closures.
11. Why is the festival list not loading?
Check your internet connection and wait for the calendar to load. You can also use the Refresh Festival List option. If the issue continues, try reloading the page later.
12. Are festivals celebrated in the same way throughout Nepal?
No. Customs, rituals, food, celebrations, and even observance dates can vary between communities and regions. Some festivals are especially important to particular cultural or religious groups.
13. Does Nepal celebrate international festivals?
Yes. People and organizations in Nepal also observe selected international celebrations and awareness days, in addition to local festivals and religious occasions.
14. How can I check the date of an upcoming Nepali festival?
Open the Nepali Festivals Calendar, browse the available listings, and review the details for the festival you want to check. Confirm the relevant BS year before relying on a date.
15. Is the Nepali Festivals Calendar free to use?
You can access the festival calendar on WriteNepali and explore the available listings online without purchasing a calendar subscription.
Explore Nepal’s Festivals and Celebrations
From Dashain and Tihar to Holi, Chhath, Buddha Jayanti, and community-specific celebrations, Nepal’s festivals reflect a rich combination of culture, faith, history, and seasonal traditions.
Use the Nepali Festivals Calendar on WriteNepali to explore available festival listings, filter occasions by category, and learn more about celebrations throughout the year. For important travel, business, or official plans, always verify the relevant dates and public holiday notices.
Discover Festivals Across Nepal
Explore Nepali festivals, cultural events, and celebrations with the WriteNepali online calendar.
Explore Nepali Festivals