Nepali festivals
The festivals of the Nepali year, each on the day Nepal keeps it, with what the day is and why it matters.
The great festivals
DashainIn 332 days
Friday, October 1, 2027 to Thursday, October 14, 2027
Nepal's greatest festival: fifteen days from Ghatasthapana to Kojagrat Purnima, with the tika on Vijaya Dashami.
TiharIn 4 days
Saturday, November 7, 2026 to Wednesday, November 11, 2026
The five-day festival of lights, from Kag Tihar to Bhai Tika.
Coming up
Kag TiharIn 4 days
Saturday, November 7, 2026 · Kartik 21, 2083
The first day of Tihar, when the crow, Yama's messenger, is fed.
Laxmi PujaIn 5 days
Sunday, November 8, 2026 · Kartik 22, 2083
The third day of Tihar: homes are lit with lamps and Goddess Laxmi is welcomed.
Kukur TiharIn 5 days
Sunday, November 8, 2026 · Kartik 22, 2083
The second day of Tihar, when dogs are honoured with garlands, tika and food.
Govardhan PujaIn 7 days
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 · Kartik 24, 2083
The fourth day of Tihar: Govardhan Puja, the worship of the ox, and Mha Puja.
Bhai TikaIn 8 days
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · Kartik 25, 2083
The last day of Tihar, when sisters put the seven-coloured tika on their brothers.
Chhath ParvaIn 12 days
Sunday, November 15, 2026 · Kartik 29, 2083
The festival of the Sun, with offerings to the setting and the rising sun at the water's edge.
Haribodhini EkadashiIn 17 days
Friday, November 20, 2026 · Mangsir 4, 2083
The Ekadashi on which Lord Vishnu wakes from his four months' sleep; the day of Tulsi Vivah.
Bala ChaturdashiIn 34 days
Monday, December 7, 2026 · Mangsir 21, 2083
The day families scatter seven kinds of seed at Pashupatinath for those they have lost.
Vivah PanchamiIn 41 days
Monday, December 14, 2026 · Mangsir 28, 2083
The wedding day of Ram and Sita, celebrated above all in Janakpur.
Yomari PunhiIn 51 days
Thursday, December 24, 2026 · Poush 9, 2083
The full moon of Mangsir: the Newar festival of yomari, Dhanya Purnima and Udhauli.
Tamu LhosarIn 57 days
Wednesday, December 30, 2026 · Poush 15, 2083
Poush 15: the New Year of the Gurung (Tamu) community.
Maghe SankrantiIn 73 days
Friday, January 15, 2027 · Magh 1, 2083
Magh 1: the Sun enters Makar rashi and turns north.
Swasthani Brata beginsIn 80 days
Friday, January 22, 2027 · Magh 8, 2083
The full moon of Poush: the month-long reading of the Shree Swasthani Brata Katha begins.
Sonam LhosarIn 96 days
Sunday, February 7, 2027 · Magh 24, 2083
The New Year of the Tamang community, on the first day of the bright half of Magh.
Basanta Panchami (Saraswati Puja)In 100 days
Thursday, February 11, 2027 · Magh 28, 2083
The first day of spring and the day of Saraswati, goddess of learning.
Magh PurnimaIn 109 days
Saturday, February 20, 2027 · Falgun 8, 2083
The full moon of Magh: the Swasthani Brata and the month of holy bathing are completed.
Maha ShivaratriIn 123 days
Saturday, March 6, 2027 · Falgun 22, 2083
The great night of Lord Shiva, on the fourteenth night of the dark half of Falgun.
Fagu Purnima (Holi)In 138 days
Sunday, March 21, 2027 · Chaitra 7, 2083
Holi, the festival of colours, on the full moon of Falgun.
Nepali New YearIn 162 days
Wednesday, April 14, 2027 · Baisakh 1, 2084
The first day of the Nepali year: Baisakh 1 in the Bikram Sambat calendar.
Chaite DashainIn 162 days
Wednesday, April 14, 2027 · Baisakh 1, 2084
The small Dashain of spring, on the eighth day of the bright half of Chaitra.
Ram NavamiIn 163 days
Thursday, April 15, 2027 · Baisakh 2, 2084
The birth of Lord Ram, on the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra.
Matatirtha Aunsi (Mother's Day)In 184 days
Thursday, May 6, 2027 · Baisakh 23, 2084
Nepal's Mother's Day, Aama ko Mukh Herne Din, on the new moon of Baisakh.
Akshaya TritiyaIn 187 days
Sunday, May 9, 2027 · Baisakh 26, 2084
The third day of the bright half of Baisakh, kept as a day whose good deeds never wear away.
Buddha JayantiIn 198 days
Thursday, May 20, 2027 · Jestha 6, 2084
The full moon of Baisakh: the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautam Buddha.
Saune SankrantiIn 256 days
Saturday, July 17, 2027 · Shrawan 1, 2084
Shrawan 1: the Sun enters Karkat rashi and the month dear to Shiva begins.
Guru PurnimaIn 257 days
Sunday, July 18, 2027 · Shrawan 2, 2084
The full moon of Ashadh, the day to honour one's teachers.
Nag PanchamiIn 276 days
Friday, August 6, 2027 · Shrawan 21, 2084
The fifth day of the bright half of Shrawan, when the Nag, the serpent deities, are worshipped.
Janai Purnima (Raksha Bandhan)In 287 days
Tuesday, August 17, 2027 · Shrawan 32, 2084
The full moon of Shrawan: the sacred thread is renewed and the raksha thread is tied.
Krishna JanmashtamiIn 294 days
Tuesday, August 24, 2027 · Bhadra 7, 2084
The birth of Lord Krishna, on the eighth day of the dark half of Bhadra.
Kushe Aunsi (Father's Day)In 301 days
Tuesday, August 31, 2027 · Bhadra 14, 2084
Nepal's Father's Day, Buwa ko Mukh Herne Din, on the new moon of Bhadra.
Haritalika TeejIn 304 days
Friday, September 3, 2027 · Bhadra 17, 2084
The women's festival of fasting, song and Shiva puja, on the third day of the bright half of Bhadra.
Rishi PanchamiIn 306 days
Sunday, September 5, 2027 · Bhadra 19, 2084
The day that closes Teej, when women bathe and worship the seven sages.
Sorha Sraddha beginsIn 317 days
Thursday, September 16, 2027 · Bhadra 30, 2084
The sixteen days for the ancestors begin: each family offers sraddha on its own tithi.
Bishwakarma PujaIn 319 days
Saturday, September 18, 2027 · Ashwin 1, 2084
Ashwin 1: the worship of Bishwakarma, the divine architect, and of tools and machines.
Jitiya ParvaIn 324 days
Thursday, September 23, 2027 · Ashwin 6, 2084
The fast mothers keep for the long life of their children, on the eighth day of the dark half of Ashwin.
Pitri Bisarjan AunsiIn 331 days
Thursday, September 30, 2027 · Ashwin 13, 2084
The new moon that ends Sorha Sraddha, when every ancestor is remembered.
GhatasthapanaIn 332 days
Friday, October 1, 2027 · Ashwin 14, 2084
The first day of Dashain: the kalash is set up and the jamara is sown.
FulpatiIn 337 days
Wednesday, October 6, 2027 · Ashwin 19, 2084
The seventh day of Dashain, when the fulpati is brought into the house.
Maha AshtamiIn 338 days
Thursday, October 7, 2027 · Ashwin 20, 2084
The eighth day of Dashain, given to Goddess Durga in her fiercest form.
Maha NavamiIn 340 days
Saturday, October 9, 2027 · Ashwin 22, 2084
The ninth day of Dashain and the last of Navaratri.
Vijaya DashamiIn 341 days
Sunday, October 10, 2027 · Ashwin 23, 2084
The tenth and greatest day of Dashain, when elders give tika, jamara and their blessing.
Kojagrat PurnimaIn 345 days
Thursday, October 14, 2027 · Ashwin 27, 2084
The full moon that closes Dashain, a night of wakefulness for Goddess Laxmi.
Ekadashi fasts
The eleventh day of each lunar fortnight is kept as a fast for Lord Vishnu, and each has its own name. Where Nepal's patro gives one day for households (Smarta) and the next for Vaishnavas, both are shown.
Rama EkadashiIn 2 days
Thursday, November 5, 2026 · Kartik 19, 2083
The Ekadashi before Tihar, named for Rama, a name of Goddess Laxmi.
Utpattika EkadashiIn 31 days
Friday, December 4, 2026 · Mangsir 18, 2083
The Ekadashi that marks the birth of Ekadashi herself.
Mokshada EkadashiIn 47 days
Sunday, December 20, 2026 · Poush 5, 2083
The Ekadashi of liberation, and the day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken.
Saphala EkadashiIn 61 days
Sunday, January 3, 2027 · Poush 19, 2083
The Ekadashi of the dark half of Poush, kept for success in what one takes up.
Poush Putrada EkadashiIn 76 days
Monday, January 18, 2027 (Smarta) and Tuesday, January 19, 2027 (Vaishnava) · Magh 4, 2083 and Magh 5, 2083
The Ekadashi of the bright half of Poush, kept by couples who wish for a child.
Shattila EkadashiIn 91 days
Tuesday, February 2, 2027 · Magh 19, 2083
The Ekadashi of sesame, which is used in six ways on this day.
Bhima EkadashiIn 106 days
Wednesday, February 17, 2027 · Falgun 5, 2083
The Ekadashi of the bright half of Magh, also called Jaya Ekadashi.
Vijaya EkadashiIn 121 days
Thursday, March 4, 2027 · Falgun 20, 2083
The Ekadashi of victory, which Lord Rama kept before crossing to Lanka.
Amalaki EkadashiIn 135 days
Thursday, March 18, 2027 · Chaitra 4, 2083
The Ekadashi on which the amala tree is worshipped.
Papamochini EkadashiIn 150 days
Friday, April 2, 2027 · Chaitra 19, 2083
The Ekadashi of the dark half of Chaitra, kept to be free of past wrongs.
Kamada EkadashiIn 165 days
Saturday, April 17, 2027 · Baisakh 4, 2084
The Ekadashi of the bright half of Chaitra, kept for the fulfilment of wishes.
Varuthini EkadashiIn 180 days
Sunday, May 2, 2027 · Baisakh 19, 2084
The Ekadashi of the dark half of Baisakh, kept as a shield against misfortune.
Mohini EkadashiIn 194 days
Sunday, May 16, 2027 · Jestha 2, 2084
The Ekadashi of the bright half of Baisakh, named for Vishnu's form as Mohini.
Apara EkadashiIn 210 days
Tuesday, June 1, 2027 · Jestha 18, 2084
The Ekadashi of the dark half of Jestha, kept for merit without measure.
Nirjala EkadashiIn 223 days
Monday, June 14, 2027 (Smarta) and Tuesday, June 15, 2027 (Vaishnava) · Jestha 31, 2084 and Jestha 32, 2084
The strictest Ekadashi of the year, kept without even water.
Yogini EkadashiIn 239 days
Wednesday, June 30, 2027 · Ashadh 15, 2084
The Ekadashi of the dark half of Ashadh, kept for health and release from past wrongs.
Harishayani EkadashiIn 253 days
Wednesday, July 14, 2027 · Ashadh 29, 2084
The Ekadashi on which Lord Vishnu goes to sleep for four months; the day tulsi is planted.
Kamika EkadashiIn 268 days
Thursday, July 29, 2027 · Shrawan 13, 2084
The Ekadashi of the dark half of Shrawan, when Vishnu is worshipped with tulsi.
Shrawan Putrada EkadashiIn 282 days
Thursday, August 12, 2027 (Smarta) and Friday, August 13, 2027 (Vaishnava) · Shrawan 27, 2084 and Shrawan 28, 2084
The Ekadashi of the bright half of Shrawan, kept by couples who wish for a child.
Aja EkadashiIn 298 days
Saturday, August 28, 2027 · Bhadra 11, 2084
The Ekadashi of the dark half of Bhadra, tied to the story of King Harishchandra.
Hariparivartini EkadashiIn 312 days
Saturday, September 11, 2027 · Bhadra 25, 2084
The Ekadashi on which the sleeping Vishnu turns onto his other side.
Indira EkadashiIn 327 days
Sunday, September 26, 2027 · Ashwin 9, 2084
The Ekadashi inside Sorha Sraddha, kept for the peace of the ancestors.
Papankusha EkadashiIn 342 days
Monday, October 11, 2027 · Ashwin 24, 2084
The Ekadashi that follows Vijaya Dashami, kept to be free of past wrongs.
Padmini EkadashiIn 874 days
Monday, March 26, 2029 · Chaitra 13, 2085
The Ekadashi of the bright half of an extra month, which comes about once in three years.
Parama EkadashiIn 888 days
Monday, April 9, 2029 · Chaitra 27, 2085
The Ekadashi of the dark half of an extra month, which comes about once in three years.
Each date is the day Nepal keeps the festival. Nepal publishes its patro one year at a time, so a date further ahead can move by a day when that year's patro comes out. For a ceremony, Pandit Ji confirms the day and the muhurta.
Nepali patro