Living culture
Festivals of Nepal
- Chaitra/BaishakhNewar
Bisket Jatra
New Year chariot festival of Bhaktapur featuring a tug-of-war over the Bhairav chariot.
Chaitra/Baishakh · Apr
Bhaktapur
- BaishakhBuddhist
Buddha Jayanti (Buddha Purnima)
Marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha on the full moon day.
Baishakh · Apr–May
Across Nepal
- ChaitraHindu
Chaite Dashain
The smaller spring Dashain, celebrated over the Chaitra Navaratri period.
Chaitra · Mar–Apr
Across Nepal
- ChaitraNewar
Ghode Jatra
Horse festival with an army cavalry parade at Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
Chaitra · Mar–Apr
Kathmandu
- BaishakhHindu
Matatirtha Aunsi (Mother's Day)
Mother's Day; children honour their mothers, with pilgrims visiting Matatirtha pond.
Baishakh · Apr–May
Across Nepal
- ChaitraHindu
Ram Nawami
Celebrates the birth of Lord Ram, widely observed at Ram temples including Janakpur.
Chaitra · Mar–Apr
Across Nepal
- Baishakh/JesthaNewar
Rato Machhindranath Jatra
Nepal's longest chariot festival, honouring the rain god Rato Machhindranath in Patan.
Baishakh/Jestha · Apr–Jun
Lalitpur
- ChaitraNewar
Seto Machhindranath Jatra (Jana Baha Dyah)
Three-day chariot procession of White Machhindranath through Kathmandu.
Chaitra · Mar–Apr
Kathmandu
- BaishakhKoch/Rajbanshi/Tajpuriya
Siruwa (Jud Shital)
Three-day New Year festival of eastern Terai indigenous communities with water, mud and colours.
Baishakh · Apr
Eastern Terai
- BaishakhKirat
Ubhauli
Kirat festival marking the upward seasonal migration, praying for good crops.
Baishakh · Apr–May
Eastern hills
