Festivals in Nepal

Nepal has the majority of Hindu followers then come Buddhist. Hindus have festivals round the year which are interesting to observe and some of them are colorful and vibrant. Some of the important festivals in Nepal appears as below:

Holidays and festivals in Nepal
Buddha Jayanti
When: Baishakh Sukla Purnima (Full moon night-May/June)
Duration: 1 day
Birth day of Lord Buddha
Place of celebration: Specially, in Buddhist people/Birth place of Buddha
Lumbini, Kathmandu Valley and in Monastery

Gaijatra
When: Bhadra (August-September)
Duration: 1 day
Meaning: The procession of cows to commemorate the death of loved ones (worship God of death Yamraj)
Place of celebration: Especially in Kathmandu Valley/ Hindu people all round Nepal

Teej
When: Bhadra (August/September)
Duration: 1 night 2 days
Meaning: fasting festival for women, dancing and singing worshiping lord Shiva
Place of celebration: All round Nepal Hindu women

Indrajatra
When: Bhadra (August/September)
Duration: 1 day
Meaning: worship God of heaven
Place of celebration: Kathmandu/ Both Hindus and Buddhists

Dashain (Special & big festival for Hindus)
When: Ashoj/ Kartik (September and October)
Duration: 15 days
Meaning: Celebrated to enjoy the victory over evil, take tika and blessings from seniors
Place of celebration: All round Nepal, Hindus/Buddhist

Tihar Holidays (Festival of lights)
When: Kartik (October/November)
Duration: 5 days
Meaning: worship Laxmi (Goddess of wealth), Lighting, Animal worshiping, Brother- sister bonding
Place of celebration: all round Nepal, Hindus/Buddhist

Maha Shiva Ratri
When: Fagun (February/March)
Duration: 1 night
Meaning: Lord Shiva’s night
Place of celebration: Hindus people / Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu and around the Country

Fagu Purnima ‘Holi’ (Festival of colors)
When: late February or on early March
Duration: 1 to 2 days
Meaning: Mythical demons Holika, it is a day when the feast of colors is celebrated.
Place of celebration: Kathmandu and all over the nation

Ghode Jatra (Festival of Horse)
When: Chaitra (March/April)
Duration: 1 day
Meaning: Horse racing day, Demonstrations from horses
Place of celebration: Kathmandu

Lhosar (Buddhist festival)
When: February/March.
Duration: 1 day
Meaning: Tibetan New Year
Place of celebration: Khumbu, Helambu and other northern regions of Nepal

Rato Macchhindranath Jatra
When: Begins on the full moon day of Baisakh
Duration: several days
Meaning: Worship for rain God
Place of celebration: Patan/ Kathmandu

Mani Rimdu
When: Full moon of the 9th Tibetan month Feb/March
Duration: 3 days
Meaning: Rimdu is the biggest event of the year for the Sherpas
Place of celebration: Khumbu region, Thyangboche Gompa