Kathmandu

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.

Showing 1–22 of 22 festivals

City guide section

Festivals and events in Kathmandu

Showing 1–22 of 22 festivals

Plan around 22 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.

Magh Sankranti

Basanta Panchami

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 S

Losar

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).

Maha Shivaratri

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.

Holi

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.

Seto Machhendranath

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.

Chaitra Dasain

Taking place six months prior to the more important Dasain celebration, both festivals are dedicated to Durga.

Bisket Jatra

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.

Ghode Jatra

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:

Buddha Jayanti

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.

Ghanta Karna

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.

Gai Jatra (August & September)

The ‘Cow Festival’ which is dedicated to all those who have died in the previous year, takes place immediately after Janai Purnima.

Teej

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.

Indra Jatra

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).

Naga Panchami

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.

Janai Purnima

Near the full moon all high-caste men (Chhetri and Brahmin) must change the janai (sacred thread), looped over their left shoulder.

Pachali Bhairab Jatra

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.

Dasain

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.

Tihar

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.

Haribodhini Ekadashi

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.

Bala Chaturdashi

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.