Festivals

As a multi-religious and multi-cultural country, Nepal observes many festivals throughout the year. Festivals celebrated in Nepal are of great social, cultural and religious importance. They have been much helpful in keeping the people of diverse culture and nature united together. As a very important occasion of socialization, these festivals also give people the opportunity to relax and have fun but more important is their deep rooted respect to the culture and religion.

For the cultural enthusiasts from around the world, Nepal can be the best destination to observe the diverse culture and festivals. The festivals vary from community to community but the only same thing they give out to people is the rich cultural experience of the community.  Be the part of the festivals celebrated in Nepal and experience the local culture and feel yourself like a local for a while. Be the part of the beautiful celebrations which you will cherish for your whole life.

Find out some of our extraordinary festival tour packages and join us for the extraordinarily amazing cultural experience.

Buddha Jayanti:  As the sacred birth land of Lord Buddha, Nepal observes the Buddha Jayanti, the day when Buddha was born, enlightened and achieved Nirvana, in the grandest way possible. This full moon day is a very important day in the life of all Buddhists. People visit the sacred Buddhist shrines and worship, pray with Buddha for the peace and harmony to prevail in their life and in the world. The Swoyambhunath Temple, famously known as monkey temple, is the main center of attraction on this day. Thousands of people make pilgrimage to this site on this day.

Be a part of the Buddhist festival and observe and experience yourself the Buddhist way of life. Watch monks performing the rituals, people making their offerings and praying to the God. Feel spiritually uplifted and make your way to Nirvana.

Teej: A festival for Hindu women, Teej is one of the important celebrations in Nepal. Hindu women worship lord Shiva, the destroyer in Hinduism, praying for the all prosperities and wellbeing of their husbands or future husbands. Women donned in red clothes and gold jewelries gather together, sing and dance as the part of celebration. It is also the perfect time for Nepali women to express their dissatisfaction in the form of songs. Women gather at every nook and corner of the neighborhood and enjoy their good time from almost two weeks before the main festival day. On the main festival day, Shiva temples around country are crowded with the devotees. They take fasting on this day praying all good things to their men. The festival falls in August – September.

Bisket Jatra (Chariot Festival of Lord Bhairav): This cultural festival takes place in the Nepali New Year which falls at the end of second week of April. This festival takes place in the heritage town of Bhaktapur where they pull a chariot on which the idol of god Bhairavnaath is kept and it is taken around the town. People from two different neighborhoods take part in the chariot pulling and whoever wins the tug-of-war, they are regarded as the blessed ones and become the in-charge of taking care of the god for next whole year. A nine days long traditional festival which is believed to have started in the 5th century A.D., is also famous because of a traditional tongue piercing ritual.

Indrajatra (Chariot Festival of Living Goddess of Kathmandu): Named after the king of gods, Indra, Indrajatra is one of the important festival celebrations in Kathmandu valley. An eight day festival, Indra Jatra is celebrated and observed by thousands of people where they witness different classical dance performances and also the chariot festival of the Living Goddess – Kumari of Kathmandu. During the celebration, the Living Goddess is taken around the city on a chariot as part a deep rooted tradition. The festival falls on early September.

Dashain:  The biggest festival of Hindus, Dashain is celebrated for fifteen days worshipping Navadurgas – Nine goddesses. As the biggest celebration in the country, this festival is observed by people with great enthusiasm. This is also the time of family reunion for Nepalese working away from home. Lots of rituals and practices are performed in the temples of goddesses throughout the country. This festival is celebrated to mark the victory of the good over the evils. This festival falls in between the end of September to the first week of October.

Tihar: Tihar is the festival of lights which is observed in Nepal with great importance. This festival is symbolic to the sacred relation and love between brothers and sisters. There are lots of celebrations with singing and dancing in different places. All the houses are decorated with beautiful and colorful lights and the atmosphere is really in festive mood for five days. This festival falls at the end of October or sometimes in early November.

Holi: This is the festival of colors and is celebrated to mark the day of end of evil. People celebrate it in jolly mood splashing different colors on each other. Holi falls in March.

Tiji Festival

Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang of Upper Mustang in Nepal. This unique and ethnic Buddhist festival falls in the month of May and is celebrated for three days. Trekking to Upper Mustang during Tiji festival is a popular activity to do in Nepal. You will observe a beautiful cultural celebration of tradition and legendary stories about how the good conquered the evil.

Mani Rimdu Festival

Mani Rimdu festival is celebrated in Everest region of Nepal. Tengobche Monastery in Tengboche along the Everest base camp trekking route observes this festival. This three day Sherpa cultural affair takes place in October/November. A wonderful Buddhist and Sherpa cultural and spiritual tradition can be observed in this festival. Mani Rimdu Festival trekking is another popular festival trekking activity in Nepal.