Festivals and Annual Events

This festival focuses on ritual bathing and is curiously dictated by the movement of the winter sun to the north. On the new moon day, the Tribeni Mela (mela means ‘fair’) kicks off in Devghat and Ridi Bazaar. Followers can also bathe in the Bagmati River at Patan’s Sankhamul ghat.

This festival heralds the beginning of spring with the honouring of Saraswati, the goddess of learning; it is held all over Kathmandu but the shrine of Saraswati, located just below the platform at the top of Swayambhunath, is the most popular place for festivities. This festival is particularly special for students and you’ll find a lot of weddings happening around this time too!

Heralding the Tibetan New Year with the new moon in February, this festival falls in either Magh or Falgun. In the Kathmandu Valley it is welcomed at the great stupa of Bodhnath (Boudha).

Commemorating the birthday of Shiva which falls on a new moon day in the lunar month of Falgun, this festival takes place at all Shiva temples. Hundreds of sadhus (mystics/practicing monks) flock to this festival so be prepared for crowds. You’ll also see them bathing in the Bagmati’s ‘holy’ waters.

Also known as Fagu or the ‘Festival of Colours’, this festival happens late in the dry season with water being sprayed around to remind people of the cooling monsoon days to come. The reason it has the ‘Festival of Colours’ tag is that coloured powder is also thrown everywhere; if you’re a foreigner you’ll probably get covered in the powder (it’s all in good fun) so leave your camera at home and wear old clothes.

Not as large as the Rato Macchendranath festival in Patan, but still quite impressive, this festival starts with the removal of the Seto Machhendranath image from the temple of Kel Tole in Kathmandu. The image is then placed on a towering, tottering rath (chariot) then locals drag it through the streets of the city’s old town for the next four days.

Taking place six months prior to the more important Dasain celebration, both festivals are dedicated to Durga. The festival culminates in the early morning sacrifice of goats and buffaloes in Kot Square, central Kathmandu. The Chaitra Dasain festival also heralds the start of the month-long Seto Machhendranath chariot festival in the city.

Celebrate Nepali New Year in mid-April which begins at the start of Baisakh. The best place to celebrate this festival is in Bhaktapur which hosts an exciting chariot festival.

The Nepali Army hosts a horse racing day at the Tundikhel parade ground in Kathmandu. A chance to showcase the army’s equestrian (and motorcycle) skills, the festival also has some myth surrounding its horses: legend has it they are raced to trample demons that would rise from the earth to create havoc on this day.

Held in Lumbini (the birthplace of Buddha) on the date of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and ascension into nirvana (all the same day), this festival is celebrated with a great fair. Full moon celebrations continue in Swayambhunath, Bodhnath and Patan, with monks dancing being one of the highlights.

This festival, celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Saaun, has a significant legend behind it. It is named for ‘bell ears’, a nasty demon that was distinguishable by the bell earrings he wore to drown out the name of his sworn enemy, Vishnu. On the 14th day, a god disguised as a frog, lured him into a deep well where the people stoned him to death. Ghanta Karna is burnt as an effigy during the festival nights in all the Newari villages; it is to cleanse evil from the land for the year.

The ‘Cow Festival’ which is dedicated to all those who have died in the previous year, takes place immediately after Janai Purnima. The festival is based on Newar culture that when a soul dies, cows guide them to Yama, the god of the underworld. During the festival cows are led through the streets of the towns and cities.

It takes place in August or early September. The ‘Festival of Women’ is held on the second day after the Bhadra new moon and finishes on the fifth; it is celebrated with particular fervour in Pashupatinath. On the first day, a sumptuous meal and party is held until midnight which begins a 26hr fasting by the women. On the second day, women dress in their red wedding saris and head to Shiva temples across the country to pray for a happy marriage. The festival draws to a close with a ritual bathing ceremony.

Indra Jatra is a spectacular festival that is held at the end of the month to celebrate the end of the monsoon season. They pay homage to Indra with an appearance by Kathmandu’s Kumari (living goddess). The festival also celebrates the conquest of Prithvi Narayan Shah and pays respect to Bhairab. Expect the most impressive parties in Kathmandu celebrating this festival.

Celebrated on the 5th day after the new moon in Saaun, this festival honours nagas (serpent deities) across the country. Nagas are considered to have magical powers over the monsoon season. Legend has it that a holy man transform into a snake to kill an evil naga. But when he emerged from the battle, victorious and still in his snake form, his terrified assistant did not recognise him and fled – taking the bowl of rice that would had transformed the holy man back into his human form. Pictures of nagas are displayed over doorways for protection and food is left out for snakes, in case one could possibly be the cursed holy man.

Near the full moon all high-caste men (Chhetri and Brahmin) must change the janai (sacred thread), looped over their left shoulder. This ritual amasses thousands of pilgrims to the sacred Gosainkund lakes where they drape a garland over the statue of Shiva and throw coins at a sacred lingam and the Kumbeshwar Temple in Patan.

The bloodthirsty figure of Bhairab is honoured in this festival which is held on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in September or October. Animal sacrifices are numerous during this time.

The biggest annual festival in the country, this party lasts for fifteen days, celebrating the victory of the goddess Durga over the evil forces of Mahisasura. Animal sacrifices are held all over the country while primitive swings and hand-powered Ferris wheels are erected at the entrance of many villages. Be aware that this festival completely shuts the country down, especially on the 9th and 10th days. Banks and government offices close from the 8th day to the 12th. The festival has many events including: • Fulpati (Phulpati): ‘Sacred Flowers’ is the first day of Dasain. A jar of flowers is carried from Gorkha to Kathmandu and are presented to the president at the Tundikhel parade ground. They are then transported to the Hanaman Dhoka (old Royal Palace). • Maha Astami: This is the ‘Great Eighth Day’ when animal sacrifices are made to Durga. At midnight, at a temple courtyard near Durbar Square, eight buffaloes and 108 goats are beheaded. • Vijaya Dashmai: The 10th day of Dasain is all about families with cards and greetings being exchanged, parents placing a ‘tika’ on their children’s foreheads. A procession and masked dances occur through the Kathmandu Valley. • Kartika Purnima: a full moon day in September and October marks the end of Dasain, with gambling and games heralding the end of the festival.

This festival takes place in late October or early November; it is the most important Hindu festival in the Asian world. In Nepal it is second only to Dasain. Honouring certain animals, offerings begin on the first day to crows (messengers of death sent by Yama), dogs (guiders of the departed souls across the river of the dead), cows and bullocks are honoured on days three and four. Other events within the festival include: • Deepawali (Festival of Lights): on the third day, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth visits homes that have been suitably lit for her entrance (hence you’ll see brightly lit homes everywhere). • Newari New Year: the start of the New Year for the Newari people of Kathmandu Valley begins on the fourth day. • Bhai Tika: held on the 5th day, brothers and sisters meet and place tika on each other’s foreheads; gifts off sweets and money are exchanged.

This festival marks an ekadashi (the 11th day after each new and full moon) which occurs twice in every lunar month and is regarded as a propitious day. The Haribodhini Ekadashi is considered the most important as on this day, Vishnu awakens from his monsoon month slumber.

There are two chaturdashis every month and this one falls on the new-moon day in late November or early December. Pilgrims make their way to Pashupatinath, burning oil lamps and scattering grain for the dead.

Held on the 5th day of the bright fortnight either in early November or December, this festival commemorates the marriage of Sita to Rama. Thousands of pilgrims from all over Nepal and India go to Janakpur (birthplace of Sita) to celebrate the marriage. The wedding is re-enacted with a parade carrying Rama’s icon to Sita’s temple by elephant.