Living culture
Festivals of Nepal
- AshwinHindu
Dashain (Vijaya Dashami)
Nepal's longest and most important Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil.
Ashwin · Sep–Oct
Across Nepal
- BhadraNewar
Gai Jatra (Sa Paru)
Cow procession honouring family members who died in the past year.
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur
- BhadraHindu
Gaura Parba
Far-western festival celebrating the divine wedding of Gauri and Maheshwor (Shiva).
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Sudurpaschim
- BhadraHindu
Haritalika Teej
Women's festival of fasting and dancing praying for marital harmony and the wellbeing of husbands.
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Across Nepal
- AshwinNewar
Indra Jatra (Yenya Punhi)
Eight-day Kathmandu festival honouring Indra with chariot processions and masked dances.
Ashwin · Sep
Kathmandu
- AshwinHindu (Maithil/Tharu)
Jitiya
Three-day fast observed by mothers for the long life of their children.
Ashwin · Sep–Oct
Terai districts
- BhadraHindu
Krishna Janmashtami
Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna with night-long vigils at Krishna temples.
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Across Nepal
- AshwinNewar
Kumari Jatra
Chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari through Kathmandu during Indra Jatra.
Ashwin · Sep
Kathmandu
- BhadraHindu
Kushe Aunsi (Gokarna Aunsi; Father's Day)
Father's Day; sons and daughters honour their fathers, living or deceased.
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Across Nepal
- BhadraBuddhist (Newar)
Mataya
Newar Buddhist lantern procession visiting Lalitpur's shrines and stupas.
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Lalitpur
- BhadraBuddhist (Newar)
Pancha Dan
Newar Buddhist festival of giving five kinds of grain to monks and the needy.
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur
- BhadraHindu
Rishi Panchami
Women's festival of ritual purification honouring the seven sages (Saptarishi).
Bhadra · Aug–Sep
Across Nepal
