A tiny country Nepal is not only a land of mountains but also a country full of colorful festivals. People here celebrate many festivals in a year. Onesupen, we have a popular saying that "We celebrate a festival 366 days in a year", which means we have many festivals. The most significant festival for Nepalese Hindus Dashain comes once a year. Similarly, Tihar is also another major festival celebrated after Dashain. Besides, Buddha Jayanti (the celebration of the birth of Buddha); Maha Shivaratri (a festival of Lord Shiva, during Maha Shivaratri festivities, some people consume excessive drinks and smoke charas), ShreePanchami, Nagpanchami, Teej, Maghe Sankranti, JanaiPurnima, Krishnaastami, Chaite Dashain, Kuse Aunsi, Guru Purnima, Mother's day, Father's day, Indra Jatra, Ghode Jatra, Buddha Jayanti, Phagu Purnima, etc. are major festivals of the country.
Main Festivals of Nepal
Here is the main festival of Nepal celebrated in the year.
Dashain Festival
Dashain is the biggest festival in Nepal, and it is celebrated in the month of Ashwin (late September or early October). Nepalese of all castes and creeds throughout the nation celebrate it because it is the longest and most auspicious festival in the nation. The festival is celebrated for fifteen days. People worship manifestations of Goddess Durga for the first nine days. Thousands of goats and buffaloes are sacrificed throughout the country on the eighth and ninth days of the festivals. The tenth day is the main day of the festival, as people receive Tika and Jamara from elders and receive their blessing. Dashain is also the time of great family reunion as family members from far-off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive Tika from the head of the family.
The festival session of 2025 has been starting from 22nd September to 4th October 2025. Dashain is celebrated for more than 10 days, the first day called Ghatasthapana (Date 22nd September) and the last day called Kojagrat Purnima (4th October 2025). The most important day is called Dashami; this year it is on the 2nd of October. During this day, people take Tika, Jamara, and blessings from elders. Phulpati,Mahaastami, and Mahanawami are celebrated with great joy after Dashami (Tika). Let’s celebrate Vijaya Dashami with us for your extreme experience. Happy Vijaya Dashami 2082!!
Dipawali Festivals
Dipawali, named Deepawali or Diwali or Tihar, the festival of lights, is the second biggest festival of Nepal, and it falls in the month of Kartik (September-October). During this festival, people worship Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. The festival is celebrated for five days, but the major celebration occurs in the last three days.
On the first and second days, it is called "Kag Tihara" and "Kukur Tihar." On the first day, people worship the crow (19th October 2025), which is believed to be the messenger of the God of death, Yamaraj, and on the second day, Kukur Tihara worships the dog (20th October 2025). On the third day, people worship cows in the morning, thoroughly decorate their houses, and display lighting to welcome Goddess Laxmi. Gai Tihar/Laxmi Puja worships the cow as the goddess of wealth (2nd-October 2025). During the night, the entire village or city looks like a sparkling diamond. During the evening, people sing Bhailo songs wishing for the prosperity of the house owners. On the fourth day, people worship Oxen (Goru Tihar/Gobardhan Tihar) (22nd-October 2025), and men sing Deusi songs throughout the night. The fifth day is the day of major celebrations, Bhai Tika (23rd October 2025). Women across the country worship their brothers and offer sweets and other delicacies. In turn, the brothers give gifts and other offerings to their sisters.
This year (2082 BS), the Dipawali festival starts from 19th October 2025 to 23rd October 2025; this is called the Tihar (Dipawali) festival of colorful light. Let's celebrate the Dipawali festival with us. A lifetime experience.
Haritalika Teej Festivals
Teej is the fasting festival of women in Nepal. It falls in August or early September. Married women observe the Teej fast to honor Lord Shiva and for the long and healthy life of their husbands. Unmarried girls also observe a fast on this day for a good husband. Teej celebrations last for three pious days. Traditional dances and songs form an important feature of Teej celebrations. The red color is considered auspicious for women observing the Teej fast, and so most of them dress up in red or bridal clothes. Teej is an annual festival for Nepali women. The festival is celebrated with utmost dedication and love by the women in Nepal. Preparations for the festival begin well in advance. Fabric stores, sarees, and suit outlets are stocked with the bridal red color fabric. Women spend most of their time shopping when Teej is near. Teej festival celebrations are carried further with sumptuous feasts and traditional performances. On this day, women dress up beautifully. They clad themselves in red-colored apparel, wear glass bangles, and heavy ornaments, and apply henna. Teej gives women an opportunity to dress like newlyweds. They worship the epitome of divine marriage—Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati—for longevity and prosperity for their husband and family.
This year, 2082 BS, Teej is going to be celebrated on 10th Bhadra, per 26 August 2025 AD.
Rato Machhendranath Jatra
This is the longest as well as the most important festival of Patan. It begins with several days of ceremonies and the formation of a wooden-wheeled chariot at Pulchowk, near the Ashoka Stupa, in the month of Baisakh (March-April). The chariot bears the shrine of the Rato Macchendranath and carries a very tall spire made from bamboo poles raised from four ends of the chariot. This unwieldy spire is around 10 meters tall, and on account of this, the chariot balances precariously. It is said that calamity is certain to strike the land in the event of the chariot overturning or breaking down. The chariot is taken through all the ancient Newari settlements in Patan. Interestingly, only the women pull the chariot on one particular day. The festival concludes after officials show a colorful Bhoto 'sacred vest' from the chariot in Jawalakhel.
Nag Panchami
Nepalese people have tremendous respect for Nagapanchami Day, which falls every year on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravan (July)/Shravan Shukla Panchami. Nagpanchami falls on July 28, 2025, this year. People celebrate this day with profound feelings and faith in the eight Gotra (clans) of the Nagas, namely: Ananta, Basuki, Padma, Mahapadam, Taksar, Kulir, Karkat, and Shank Nag.
During Nagpanchami, people wake up early in the morning and bathe in precious water, then make images of the serpent, Nag, Ganesh, and Kalash with cow dung or white flour and worship. It is customary to visit the serene Naga’s, Pound, Well, and Shiva temples and worship the Serpent, offering cow milk, sesame, barley, doobo, and kush (sacred grass) and burning shrikhand (sandalwood) iPeople believe that the aroma of Shrikhand is the most beloved aspect of Nagadevata/Serpent.Serpent. If we go to the nearby tree of Shrikhcautious careful with the serpent.
Similarly, in this puja (worship), there is a law to use white lotus flowers and lava (parched paddy that is grown in the flower). Likewise, people draw pictures of serpents and pass them at the main entrance of the house/door, offering yogurt, dubo, kush, sindur (a traditional vermilion red or orange-red colored cosmetic powder), chandan, etc. On this day, people believe that worshiping Nag prevents lightning strikes in the house, eliminates the fear of fire, and wards off snakes and other poisonous creatures. This day is believed to mark the winter with the end of the rainy season.
Probably, you are wondering why people are worshiping such venomous serpents.
According to classical astrological belief, Nag Panchami is an auspicious day to start any kind of new work or business. There is a religious belief that the serpent will get out of the newly built house by worshipping Nag Panchami if they make the residents. This ritual is not a pretext for the law. Not superstition. It also has scientific significance.
Scientific research has proved that poisonous substances in nature are accepted by snakes and make the environment clean. Snakes have a special role to play in protecting the environment. The snakes absorb toxins from the atmosphere and provide fresh air to humans. Additionally, scientific research has shown that snakes can be used to develop drugs for treating deadly diseases such as cancer. cancer.
Therefore, we can survive and be healthy only if we have a balance that not only affects individuals but also the entire world. People celebrate Nag Panchami to symbolize the magnificence of the serpent.
In the horoscope, those who are guilty of Rahu and Ketu also worship the religious lord Shiva today or chant the special mantra by worshiping the Nag deity, and the religious belief that life will be relieved by the influence of Rahu and Ketu. The Mahabharata provides the real historical roots of Nag Panchami.
The Taksha serpent claimed the life of King Parikshit. His son Janmajay started the process of killing all the snakes in the world in retaliation for the death of his father. For this reason, he made a great one. We invited all the sages, saints, and scholars to this Mahayagya, where a powerful fire burned out all snakes except Taqshak. Fire. However, Taqsha sent Indra to heaven and came back to Janmajay. Everyone is surprised to see this. Immediately, Astika, the son of Mansdevi, apologizes to Janamjaya for his father's death. All the serpents sacrificed in the sacrifice received a rebirth.
Both Shiva and Vishnu are considered serpents, as Lord Shiva is wearing a garland of snakes and Vishnu is lying on the serpent bedding on the water. Lord Ganesha, who is entitled to the first worship in Hinduism, holds a snake in his hand. Shri Ramachandra's brother Lakshmana, who is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and Balaram, Krishna's brother, are also considered the incarnations of Shishnag, king of the serpent.
The Nagpanchami festival is a blend of spirituality, culture, and ecological awareness, honoring the relationship between humans and nature.
Gaijatra
Nepal is a naturally gifted, beautiful country with geographical diversity and is culturally affluent. Almost every day is significant for fasts and festivals in the year. Gaijatra is the most important festival in Nepal. The festival of "Gai Jatra," the procession of cows, is generally celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (late July or early August). The Festival of Cows is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal. The festival has its roots in the ancient age when people feared and worshipped Yamaraj, "the god of death." The Gaijatra festival began in the medieval period of Nepal during the reign of the Malla Kings. According to folklore, every family who has lost a relative(s) during the past year must participate in a procession through the streets of Kathmandu leading a cow. If a cow is not available, then a young boy dressed as a cow is considered a fair substitute. After the procession is over, people take part in another age-old tradition in which the participants dress up and wear masks. Songs, jokes, mockery, and humor of all kinds fill the occasion, becoming the norm until late evening. This year the Gaijatra festival falls on 9-Sarwan-2081, or 9th August 2025.
Ghode Jatra
Ghode Jatra, or the Horse Racing Day, falls in the month of Chaitra (late March or early April). A grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel, the central point of the city. According to folklore, this festival is organized to celebrate the victory over a demon named Tundi who resides over the meadow, today known as Tundikhel. When Tundi met his death, people rejoiced by dancing on his body with horses. People believe that the clamor of horses' hooves during Ghode Jatra at Tundikhel deters the demon's spirit, which still threatens to ruin the city. This year, Gode Jatra is going to be celebrated on 16 Chaitra 2081, as 29 March 2025.
Holi Festival (Phagu Purnima)
Fagu Purnima is the most popular festival in Nepal with colors, friendships, and love. This is a festival calling for the spring season. Laterally, Fagu Purnima is a composition of two different words: Phagu (the name of the 11th month of the Nepali month Phagun) and Purnima (full moon). People describe it in other ways as well; Phagu means sacred red color, and Purnima is a full moon. There are different myths about this festival.
The ancient Hindu festival of Fagu Purnima falls on the full moon day in the month of Falgun according to the lunar calendar (late February or early March). Allegedly named after the mythical demon Holika, it is a day when the feast of colors is celebrated.
Legendary, this festival originated as a celebration of the death of the demon Holika. Holika is the sister of Hiranyakasipu, and Prahlad is Hiranyakasipu’s son. Hiranyakasipu was proud of his power; he believed that there was not anyone more powerful than himself. But his son Prahlad is devoted to Lord Vishnu/Krishna. As Hiranyakasipu did not like his son’s beehive, he said to his sister (Holika) to burn him on fire. An evil woman, who had a fire, resists power; she had made several attempts to kill her nephew, Prahlad put the boy on her lap beneath the burning fire. But the boy (devotee of Lord Vishnu) remained untouched by the fire instead, and Holika was herself destroyed by surprise. After the victory against the evil by God, the Holi festival began to celebrate with color and water.
The Holi starts one week before the main celebration. As traditional rituals, a long bamboo stick (lingo) covered with pieces of different color cloths (Chir) is standing in Bashantapur Durbar Square at Kathmandu. The main day of Holi is celebrated one day prior to Lingo being taken down and burnt in the Chir. It is called Chir Haran or Holika Dahan. The ashes are carried home by devotees as Parsad; it is believed that it will protect them against evil.
People are gathering and putting colors on each other as tokens of love. They visit their relatives and friends, moving the whole day, singing and dancing with colors. Different parts of people celebrate different dates. People of Terai celebrate Holi the next day of the Kathmandu and Hilly region. This is a joyful festival for children; they use Pichakari (water guns of bamboo or plastic) with colorful water thrown at each other. Even they filled balloons with water (Lola) and smeared them over them.
Nowadays, Holi is celebrated by every person without religious boundaries. Even this is a great experience for every tourist from a different world, who would like to know about unique Nepali culture. This year Holi falls on 2081 B.S. Falgun 29th on Thursday, 12 March 2025 A.D. You are heartily welcome to join us for our grand festival, Holi.
Lhosar
Several indigenous communities in hilly and mountain areas celebrate Lhosar as the New Year festival. Festive activities like singing, dancing, and feasting are observed across the country. Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. On the first day of Losar, a beverage called changkol is made from Chhaang (a Tibetan cousin of beer). The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar (also Losar). Losar is traditionally preceded by the five-day practice of Vajrakilaya. Although it often falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year (sometimes with one day or occasionally with one lunar month difference), it is generally not thought to be culturally directly connected to that holiday. It is culturally more related to Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia than to the Chinese New Year festivity. Losar is also celebrated in Bhutan, although different regions in the country have their own respective New Year's. The Sonam Losar or Lhochaar, is celebrated by the Sherpas it mostly falls in the month of February. Tamangs, Sherpas and Gurungs celebrate Lhosar on different dates.
Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the holy month of Magh, usually mid-January. It brings an end to the ill-omened month of Poush (mid-December) when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Even if it is considered the coldest day of the year, it marks the coming of warmer weather and better days of health and fortune. This day is said to be the most significant day for holy bathing despite the weather. This ritual usually takes place at the confluence of sacred rivers and streams. In addition to holy bathing and worship of shrines, certain auspicious foods like till Laddoos (sesame seeds ball cakes), Chaku (Molasys), ghee (clarified butter), sweet potatoes, khichari (mixture of rice and lentils), and green leaf spinach are taken on this day.
Maha Shivaratri
This day is a celebration dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hindus all over the world know Shiva through different names and forms. The country has thousands of idols and monuments, which glorify his name, the most common one being the Shiva Linga or the phallus of Shiva that represents him. It is the Shiva linga that Hindus regard as the symbol of creation, the beginning of everything.
Hindus all over the world celebrate this day with great enthusiasm. Shiva Ratri means 'the night consecrated to Shiva'. This auspicious festival falls in the month of Falgun (February – March). The temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, which is considered one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus, glorifying Lord Shiva, receives more than 100,000 worshippers during the festival of Shiva Ratri. Pilgrims come from far and wide to pay their respects and homage to Shiva. One of the interesting aspects of Shiva Ratri is that on this day devotees and non-devotees alike freely indulge in smoking intoxicating substances such as marijuana and bhang.
This year Maha Shivaratri falls on 8 March 2024. People visit the Shiva Temple early in the morning and worship Lord Shiva offering Bhang, Dhaturo, Belpatra, Flower, Jao, Til, Dubo, Mika, etc. Even, the whole day devotees worship God Shiva. And in the evening they make a fire (Dhuni) next to Shibha Mandir for the whole night, smoking Bhang, eating Laddu, as Parsed of Siva, and singing, and dancing. If you would like to celebrate Maha Shivaratri with us please contact us.
Mani Rimdu
Mani Rimdu is the biggest festival of the year for the Sherpas of the Khumbu region. Sherpas from the Khumbu region congregate at Thyangboche Monastery, the picturesque monastery situated on a spur at 3,870 meters. The three-day celebrations of Mani Rimdu follow the ten days of non-stop prayer sessions addressed to the patron deities seeking blessing from the god of all mankind. The deity propitiated is Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The ceremony begins with the blowing of horns in the afternoon after which the abbot of the monastery accompanied by other monks chant prayers. The congregation is blessed and given holy water and auspicious pellets for good luck and longevity. An orchestra of cymbals, horns, flutes, and conch shells announces the start of the second day's celebrations. Monks in colorful robes and huge glowering masks perform dances symbolizing the destruction of evil. On the last day, tormas (figures made of dough) are consigned to a sacred fire. This implies the end of negative forces and the advent of a blessed new year. The Mane Rimdu festival falls in October and November.
Buddha Jayanti
Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year during Baishakha Purnima (full moon of April or May) with different names, like Buddha Purnima in Nepal and Sakadawa in Tibet. On this day, people swarm in Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and other Gumbas (monasteries) to pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini and chant prayers and burn butter lamps. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, as Prince Siddhartha Gautama in 623 BC to King Suddhodhana and Queen Maya Devi, but he abandoned his luxurious royal life, including his wife (Yashodhara) and son (Rahul), at age 29 when he realized the misery of mankind and went in search of enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama hardly meditated for six years in different places, and finally, he sat under the Pipal Tree (Bodhivriksha) with a Kuss (a sacred plant) mattress. On the eighth day of this meditation, he got full enlightenment on the day of Baishaakha Purnima (Full Moon). After enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama was known as “Gautam Buddha.” Buddha Jayanti, also known as Buddha Purnima, is the most sacred festival of Buddhists. Buddha Purnima (Buddha Jayanti) is celebrated in remembrance of Lord Buddha and his great Buddhist philosophy quotes. This year, the 2569th Buddha Jayanti is going to be celebrated on Baishakh 29th, 2082 BS (May 12th, 2025 AD). You may visit Lumbini on this occasion; for this, you must make hotel reservations. They will deliver Buddha's philosophy to the world from Lumbini, Nepal.
Lord Buddha is the founder of Buddhism, and now 488 million Buddha followers are in the world. Buddhist philosophy quotes are much more important to this day. This day commemorates three important events in Buddha's life. While he was spreading precious quotes to human beings, the Buddha attained Parinirvana at Kushinagar, India, at the age of eighty.
Likewise, the Saka Dawa festival is celebrated for a month in Tibet; the festival is held on the full moon day of the 4th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar (May/June) every year. Saka Dawa is celebrated in honor of Sakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment, birth, and death on the same day as Buddha Jayanti, known as Buddha Purnima, on this auspicious day.
According to Buddhism, there are four main holy places for Buddhists:
Lumbini: Where Buddha was born.
Bodh Gaya: Where Buddha got enlightenment.
Sarnath: From where Buddha first taught the Dharma.
Kusinagar: where Buddha got Parinirvana.
Pancasila
- I observe, refraining from killing any living beings.
- I observe, refraining from taking what does not give.
- I observe my surroundings while refraining from committing sexual misconduct.
- I observe, refraining from telling lies.
- I observe, refraining from taking any intoxicant or drug.
पञ्चशील
- म प्राणायाम गर्ने काम छोड्ने शील राम्ररी पालन गर्दछु।
- म नदिइकन लिने कर्म छोड्ने शील राम्ररी पालन गर्दछु ।
- म कामरागको विषयमा नराम्रो आचरण गर्ने कर्म अर्थात् परस्त्री वा परपुरुष गमन गर्ने काम छोड्ने शील राम्ररी पालन गर्दछु।
- म झूट कुरा गर्ने बानी छोड्ने शील राम्ररी पालन गर्दछु।
- म बेहोशका कारण हुने रक्सी, जाँड आदि लागू पदार्थ सबै छोड्ने शील राम्ररी पालन गर्दछु।
Gautama Buddha/Quotes
- You will receive punishment for your anger, not for it.
- Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future; concentrate your mind on the present moment.
- Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
- No one saves us but ourselves. No one can, and no one may. We must walk the path ourselves.
- Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
- A single candle can light thousands of candles without shortening its life. Sharing never diminishes happiness.
- You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
- Our thoughts shape us; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
- Peace comes from within. Do not seek it alone.
- The mind is everything. What you think, you become.