Living culture

Festivals of Nepal

Most festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move each year. Pick a month to see what is celebrated.

JuneBuddhist (Sherpa)
Dumje (Dumji)
Sherpa festival honouring Guru Rinpoche's birth anniversary with masked dances and rituals.
Jun–Jul
Solukhumbu
ShrawanNewar
Ghanta Karna Chaturdashi (Gathamuga)
Newar festival driving away the demon Ghanta Karna with effigies and processions.
Shrawan · Jul–Aug
Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur
ShrawanNewar
Gun Punhi
Full-moon day ending the holy month of Gunla, observed with Buddhist devotion.
Shrawan · Jul–Aug
Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur
ShrawanHindu
Janai Purnima (Rakshya Bandhan)
Full-moon day when Hindu men change their sacred thread (janai) and wear rakshya bands.
Shrawan · Jul–Aug
Across Nepal
ShrawanHindu (Maithil)
Madhushravani
Fifteen-day festival of Maithil women praying for their husbands' longevity.
Shrawan · Jul–Aug
Terai districts
ShrawanHindu
Nag Panchami
Day of worshipping serpent deities for protection from snake bites.
Shrawan · Jul–Aug
Across Nepal