There’s a couple of interesting festivals coming up here in Nepal this month. We’ve got the Sostani (Swasthani) Sange on Monday, that’s out in Sankhu a little outside Kathmandu, then we’ve got the Tibetan Losar on the next new moon, in about three weeks and finally it’s time for Maha-Shivaratri on 23rd February 2009. If you are trekking in Himalaya, pay special attention to the ones marked in this color. There are some great festivals up there in the Himalayas that are worth timing your trek after.

But there’s so many other festivals in Nepal that it’s difficult to keep track of them all. I’m trying to maintain a list of all the Nepalese festivals, with date and location, since it’s usually good photo opportunities… Thought I might share it with you all. If you know of any festivals or info I’ve forgotten, feel free to add it to the list here (in comment below).

Note that I’m using the Nepalese calendar where the year starts with ‘Baisak’ in April.

click any picture to see large / more or order as poster! browse through more of my Nepal Festival Photos here

Baisak (April-May)

Hindu new year - mid April, celebrated on first evening of new year (not last evening of old year, as ‘we’ do)

Bisket Jatra - from 4-5 days before New Year till 4-5 days after, in Bhaktapur & Thimi

Balkumari Jatra - in Thimi

Chaitra Dashain – sometimes held in this month in stead of the previous month of Chait

Seto Machhendranath - Chait or Baisakh month, Kathmandu and Patan

Buddha’s birthday - on full moon

Baise Dhara - Balaju, on full moon

Rato Machhendranath / Bhoto Jatra – this festival continues for a month, where a huge chariot is dragged around, mainly in Patan (Lalitpur). The main events are the first day in the afternoon and the last day at noon. The route is something like : Bungamati - Lagankhel (day after full moon) - Pulchowk (10 days) - Hakhu Bahal - Sundhara - Lagankhel – Jawalakhel.

Mani Rimdu dance festival (1/3) - in Thame, which is one days walk from Namche Bazar

Sankhu Bajrayogini Jatra – in Sankhu

Mata Tirtha Puja (Mothers Day) - Widely celebrated, those with deceased mothers head to the Matatirtha Pond in the south-western foothills of Kathmandu Valley

Djeth (May - June)

Sithi-nakha - Newari festival, Jaisideval Kathmandu

Teechi – only held in Lo Manthang

Kumar Sasthi - Hindu warrior God’s birthday, celebrated by stone throwing fights(!)

Ubhauli - celebrated by Kiratis, Rais & Limbus at Tundikhel (Kathmandu) ~ 2 weeks from 6. Djeth

Asar (June - July)

No festivals this month, sorry! Everyone’s busy in the rice paddies…

Saun (July - August)

Ghanta Kharna - Newari mock funerals marks slaying of the Gothemangal / Gathemuga devil. Takes place towards the end of the month (~August)

Gunla - Newari Buddhist holy month (~August), night marches at Namo Buddha, Sankhu and Swayambhunath

Bhadra (August - September)

Nag Panchami – Festival of snakes, gatherings at the Toudaha lake and Nag Pokhari in Kathmandu

Janai Purniam / Rakchshya Bandhan - on fullmoon in Gosaikunda and Kumbheswor (Patan Durbar Square)

Gai Jatra a.k.a. Saparu - 3-7 days, mainly in Bhaktapur and Pashupatinath

Krishnaastami – God Krishna’s birthday, Krishna Mandir in Patan

Mataya - Patan, coincides with Gai Jatra (2nd day of Bhadra?)

Teej - 1 day ladies festival. Pashupatinath and other Shiva Temples.

Pancha Dan - Newari Buddhists, esp. the Shakya clan.

Gaura Parba - Far Western Region, on Bhadra astami

Gokarna Aunsi - fathers day, celebrated at the temple of Gokarna

Asaj (September - October)

Indra Jatra - 1 week, Basantapur. The Kumari (living goddess) is taken around town on a chariot, among other things…

Eid el-Fitr - 3 days, Muslim end of Ramadan

Dashain / Ghatasthapana - 10 days, everywhere! Buffalos are slaughtered and busses are booked weeks in advance.

Mani Rimdu dance festival (2/3) - in Tengboche

Ashwin - Ganesh festival

Kartik (October - November)

Tihar / Deepawali - 5 days worship of crows, dogs, money, oxen and brothers respectively

Chat puja – held in the Tarai

Mani Rimdu dance festival (3/3) - in the remote Chiwong Monastery

Haribodhini Ekadash - in Pashupatinath (maybe in Mangsir?)

Mangsir (November- December)

Ma puja - Newari

(Sita) Bibaha Panchami - Ram & Sita’s wedding day

Yomari Punhi - rice cake offering, Newari

Dhan Purnima - on fullmoon day, to celebrate end of rice harvest

Tulsi puja - ??

Balachaturdashi / Sarvicharne - Pashupati & other Shiva temples, evening/night.

Hajj - Muslim

Pus (December - January)

Gurung Losar

Christian Christmas – Thamel / Pokhara

Gregorian calendar new year – Thamel, Pokhara

Magh (January - February)

Magh Sankranti - first day of Magh month, ritual bathing an Sakhu & Sankamul Ghat (Patan)

Madhav Narayan Mela – held at Aryaghat, Pashupatinath, Deopatan, Bagmati…(?)

Tamang Losar

Sri Panchami / Panch Prithwi Jayanti - Basantapur to Singha Durbar, Kel Tole in the evening

Martyrs’ Day

Sweta Manchhendra Snan - Kumari goes to Asan Tol

Swasthani Puja / Poush Sukla Purnima - held in Sankhu & at Gauri Ghat, last whole month, but mainly celebrated on first, last & fullmoon day

Basanta Panchmi - Basantapur & Saraswati temples (most notable near Swayambhunath)

Saraswati Puja – minor children go to Saraswati temples and write A-B-C- on their walls

Fagun (February - March)

Maha Shivaratri - Pashupati

Sherpa & Tibetan Losar

Chait (March - April)

Chaitra Dashain - Chait / Baisakh

Seto Machhendranath - Chait / Baisakh, Kel Tole / Patan

Rath - Kathmandu

Holi - on the fullmoon day (Marawi’s of Indian descent celebrate the next day). One week before, a bamboo pole is erected in Basantaput, it’s burned the last night

Gahanapokhari

“Hadigaon Jatra”

Bajra Yogini – Sanku

Ghode Jatra - Tundikhel horse show

Bishu festival - far Western region

Bisket Jatra - starts 4/5 days before Nepali New Year, in Bhaktapur & Thimi

Janbaha Deo Jatra - White Machhendranath, old part of Ktm

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