The land of the Himalayas, Nepal, is also known as the land of festivals. Throughout the year, various religious and ethnic communities come together to celebrate their significant festivals. These festivals in Nepal mark religious and historical events and also strengthen the bond between families and community members.
From the grand, colourful parades in the streets of Kathmandu to cosy family get-togethers, these festivals show the many traditions of the country. These celebrations are a key part of Nepali life. This blog will help you explore the significance of some of the major festivals in Nepal:
National and Major Religious Festivals
Dashain
Dashain, also called Vijaya Dashami, is the biggest and most celebrated festival in Nepal. It usually falls in September or October and lasts for 15 days. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil, as per Hindu mythology, where Goddess Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura.
Families gather to receive Tika and Jamara from elders, a ritual that signifies blessings and prosperity. Goat sacrifices, kite flying, and swinging are some of the significant traditions associated with Dashain. Another key aspect of Dashain is visiting temples, particularly the Pashupatinath Temple, to offer prayers. People buy new clothes, clean their homes, and enjoy festive feasts.
Tihar
Tihar, the festival of lights, is a five-day-long celebration known for its joyful and lively atmosphere. Also celebrated in Nepal and India, it honours animals like crows, dogs, and cows, recognizing their roles in human lives. On the third day, Laxmi Puja is dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, and homes are decorated with oil lamps and rangoli to welcome prosperity.
On the final day, Bhai Tika, sisters apply Tika to their brothers and exchange gifts, strengthening sibling bonds. The atmosphere is vibrant, where young boys and girls play Deusi Bhailo ( a mix of music, dance, and performances), making it one of the most popular festivals in Nepal.
Holi
Holi, the festival of colours, also symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It recalls the story of Demoness Holika, who met her end while attempting to harm Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu. The burning of Holika is celebrated joyfully by smearing colours on each other’s faces and dancing to traditional music.
Now, the festival is known for its energetic and playful nature, where people gather in the streets of Kathmandu and other cities to throw coloured powders and water balloons and enjoy festive treats.
Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna and is celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley and Terai region. Temples like Krishna Mandir in Patan host prayers, rituals, and dances, while devotees chant “Hare Krishna,” fast, and adorn homes with flowers and lights. Young boys act as Krishna and display his past life, such as playful butter-stealing and playing flute.
Indra Jatra
As the monsoon rains begin to recede, Kathmandu bursts into vibrant celebration with Indra Jatra. This festival is dedicated to Lord Indra, the god of rain. A grand chariot procession carries the Living Goddess, Kumari, through the streets while the air fills with the sounds of traditional music and the energy of cultural dances. Sacred masks and the captivating Lakhey dance are some of the unique highlights of this festival, which celebrates the end of the monsoon season.
Saraswati Puja
Saraswati Puja is a significant festival dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, arts, and learning. Celebrated on Vasant Panchami, students, scholars, and artists place their books, musical instruments, and tools before the goddess to seek blessings for knowledge and creativity. Temples and homes are adorned with flowers, and pujas are performed to invoke her blessings.
The festival is especially vibrant in the Kathmandu Valley, where institutions hold ceremonies and children begin their education through Akshar Abhyarambh. Music, dance, and performances highlight the deep connection between arts, learning, and the divine, making Saraswati Puja an essential part of Nepali culture.
Christmas
Even though there aren’t as many Christians in Nepal, Christmas is still a popular time for spreading love, peace, and goodwill. People gather for prayers, church services, and festive celebrations and decorate churches with lights and nativity scenes. Even people from other religions celebrate it as a day for family reunions, feasts, and exchanging gifts, especially in the Kathmandu Valley. The malls and streets are decorated with Christmas trees and lights, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan for Muslims in Nepal, beginning with the sighting of the new moon. Mosques and open fields become centres of prayer, filled with the murmur of blessings. Muslims in Nepal connect with their community, sharing special meals like flavorful mutton curry and an array of sweets. The tradition of Zakat al-Fitr embraces the spirit of charity and ensures that even those struggling financially can partake in the joyous celebrations.
Nepal Sambat New Year and Mha Puja
Nepal Sambat is the New Year celebration based on the Nepal Sambat calendar, a lunar calendar used by the Newar community. The festival, usually falling in mid-October, marks a time of renewal and thanksgiving. Celebrated with enthusiasm in the Kathmandu Valley, it includes rituals to honour ancestors and seek blessings for prosperity in the new year.
A key part of the celebration is Mha Puja, where people worship themselves to symbolize self-purification and well-being. Families gather to offer prayers, light lamps, and seek blessings for health and prosperity. Streets are decorated with vibrant displays, and processions and traditional dances add to the festive atmosphere. Nepal Sambat and Mha Puja are a time for reflection, cultural expression, and strengthening community bonds within the Newar tradition.
Ethnic and Regional Festivals
Lhosar
Lhosar, which typically falls in February or March, marks the start of a new year on the Tibetan lunar calendar. This significant celebration for Nepal’s Tibetan, Sherpa, and Lama communities is a time for families and relatives to come together for prayers, rituals, traditional dances, and festive meals.
On this day of the Tibetan New Year, Buddhists honour Lord Buddha, seeking blessings for prosperity and health by lighting butter lamps. Lhosar is a time for reflection, renewal, and spiritual connection and a powerful reminder of the rich Tibetan cultural heritage.
Ubhauli and Udhauli
Ubhauli and Udhauli are important festivals for the Kirat and Limbu communities in eastern Nepal. Ubhauli celebrates the beginning of the harvest season, while Udhauli marks its end. Mountains and nature spirits are honoured in these festivals through vibrant celebrations featuring traditional dances, folk songs, and feasts. Rituals and offerings are made for future prosperity. These events reflect a strong spiritual connection to the land, an expression of gratitude for the earth’s bounty, and an opportunity for community bonding and cultural preservation.
Sakewa and Sakela
Sakewa and Sakela are harvest festivals celebrated by the Rai and Limbu communities. Sakewa, observed in spring, and Sakela, marking the end of the harvest in autumn, both involve rituals, offerings, and dances to honour nature spirits and ancestors. Traditional dances, such as the Sakela dance and feasts, are held to give thanks for the harvest. These festivals celebrate the bond between humans and nature, fostering community unity, honouring heritage, and seeking prosperity for the future.
Sisekwa Tangnam
Sisekwa Tangnam is a Limbu festival celebrated on the full moon of Shrawan (July or August). It is a time of spiritual reflection and honouring ancestors and nature spirits. Rituals include prayers, offerings, and traditional dances to seek blessings for a good harvest and health. Families and communities gather to express gratitude and ensure prosperity for the coming year. Through folk songs, dances, and festive meals, the festival strengthens community bonds and reflects the deep spiritual connection between the Limbu people and nature.
Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti marks the winter solstice and the beginning of the solar new year in Nepal. Celebrated by various ethnic groups, it’s a time to honour the sun and seek blessings for prosperity and good health. People take holy dips in rivers, especially in the Terai and hilly regions, as part of purification rituals. It’s also a time for family gatherings and feasts, with special foods like til ko laddu (sesame sweets) enjoyed by all.
Maghe Sankranti represents new beginnings and the transition from winter to spring. The festival unites communities, where people gather to celebrate the return of warmth and the sun’s blessings. Thus, it’s a joyful occasion for spiritual renewal, connection with nature, and fostering unity within families and communities.
Janai Purnima
Janai Purnima, or Raksha Bandhan, fills Nepal with a sense of warmth and tradition. Across the country, Hindu men renew their Janai while sisters lovingly tie Rakhis on their brothers’ wrists. These sacred threads, woven with love and protection, are a powerful symbol of the sibling bond. Family members wear new clothes and gather to pray at Pashupatinath temple in the Kathmandu Valley. This festival symbolizes renewal and devotion and celebrates the enduring ties of family and faith.
Festivals Celebrating Nature and Agriculture
Chhath
Chhath festival is celebrated in the Terai region of Nepal. Devotees gather by riversides and offer prayers to the Sun God for blessings of health and prosperity. The air is filled with devotional music and the aroma of traditional offerings like thekua. People worship the setting sun on the first day and then fast on the second day. The third day is known as Sandhya Arghya. Devotees again offer prayers to the setting sun, and finally, on the fourth day, Usha Arghya, they offer prayers to the rising sun, marking the culmination of the festival.
Gai Jatra
Gai Jatra, often called the “Fair of Cows,” is a popular festival in Nepal primarily observed in the Kathmandu Valley. Traditionally, it is a festival to commemorate the deceased, where families who have lost a loved one during the past year take part in a vibrant procession with cows, symbolic of the journey of the soul. The joyful dances bring together families and communities in a unique way to honour their ancestors. Newari festivals like this one hold deep cultural significance and contribute to Nepal’s rich cultural heritage.
Bisket Jatra
The Bisket Jatra marks the arrival of the Nepali New Year. It is celebrated by decorating chariots and then pulling them through the streets. It takes many people to pull the chariot and prepare for the grand procession. They gather to welcome the new year with music, dance, and colourful displays of local culture. It’s a time for families, traditions, and a shared sense of renewal.
Rato Machhendranath Jatra
The Rato Machhendranath Jatra is one of the most significant Newar festivals celebrated in Patan. Dedicated to the god Machhendranath, this festival is marked by a large chariot procession through the streets of Patan. It is believed that honouring Machhendranath with this vibrant event brings prosperity and health to the community. Buddha Jayanti also coincides with this festival, adding spiritual depth to the celebrations with processions and prayers to honour Lord Buddha.
Yomari Purnima
Yomari Purnima celebrates both the bountiful harvest and the Nepali New Year. The star of the show is the yomari, a steamed dumpling filled with jaggery and sesame seeds. These are often shaped to resemble deities like Annapurna, Ganesh, and Kuber, adding to the symbolic significance of the offerings. While offering, they pray for a bountiful harvest and prosperity in the coming year, too. Likewise, Yomari Purnima beautifully blends cultural traditions with the agricultural cycle, honouring the land’s generosity and the deep Newari heritage.
Festivals Celebrating Women and Social Unity
Teej
Hindu women mainly celebrate the Teej festival. It is inspired by the legend of Goddess Parvati’s unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva, which ultimately led to their marriage. So, on the day before the festival, women gather, relax, and enjoy a lavish meal called “Dar” and fast throughout the Teej. They wear red saris and gather in Shiva temples to seek blessings for their husbands and families. This vibrant festival is a celebration of sisterhood and female empowerment in Nepal.
Ghode Jatra
Ghode Jatra is a unique cultural celebration held in Kathmandu. The festival dates back to ancient times and is believed to ward off evil spirits. According to legend, a demon named Tundi once terrorized the valley, and after he was defeated, horses were galloped over his resting place to prevent his return. Hence, it is called the festival of horses.
Today, the Nepalese Army organizes horse races and acrobatic performances in Tundikhel, while local communities hold cultural processions and rituals. The festival blends tradition, myth, and military display, making it an exciting and culturally significant event.
Unique Elements of Nepali Festivals
Animal Worship
Animals play a central role in Nepali festivals. Hindus worship them as symbols of gods and goddesses, e.g., from cows in Gai Jatra to dogs during Kukur Tihar. This tradition reflects a deep respect for all living creatures and highlights the close connection between Nepali people and nature.
Living Goddess Tradition
One of the most unique aspects of Nepali festivals is the Living Goddess, or Kumari, who is a young prepubescent girl chosen as the physical embodiment of the goddess Durga. The Kumari Jatra, which takes place during several festivals, involves the chariot procession through the streets of Kathmandu Valley. The Kumari symbolizes divine purity and is a significant part of Nepali traditions.
Rituals and Symbolism
Each festival holds symbolism, even though rituals may vary from region to region. They honour various gods and goddesses and perform rituals for the well-being of family and community. For example, during Dashain, elders put tika (a mixture of rice, yoghurt, and vermilion) on the foreheads of junior family members and give blessings for a good life.
Importance of Festivals in Nepal
Cultural Significance
Nepali festivals are a mix of faith, stories, and traditional customs passed down from generation to generation. Whether it’s a small family gathering or a large public celebration, these festivals connect people to something larger than themselves, reminding them of their shared history and identity.
Religious Unity
Nepal is a multi-religious country, and its festivals demonstrate the harmonious coexistence of different faiths. Nepali people celebrate all Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian festivals with equal passion and enthusiasm.
Social Gathering
They also engage in collective activities and strengthen their bonds and friendships during these occasions. They prepare traditional foods, exchange gifts, and participate in cultural events, reinforcing the social fabric of Nepalese society.
Experiences for Tourists
Cultural Immersion
These festivals allow you to immerse yourself in Nepal’s rich cultural heritage. Visitors can have unique experiences here, from the Bisket Jatra to the vibrant colours of Holi and the grand celebrations of Dashain and Tihar. They will surely be captivated by the lively ceremonies, music, and warm hospitality of the Nepali people.
Festivals as a Travel Attraction
Nepali festivals are extraordinary so they automatically draw visitors from all over the world. Events like Tihar, Bisket Jatra, and Rato Machhendranath Jatra offer a unique cultural experience. Whether you’re trekking in the Himalayas or exploring historic temples in Kathmandu Valley, they showcase the vibrant energy and spirit of the Nepali people.
Etiquette for Visitors
If you’re planning to experience these festivals of Nepal, you get to learn etiquette like:
- Dressing appropriately for religious ceremonies and temple visits.
- Respecting rituals by not interrupting prayers or processions.
- Take off your shoes before entering temples and avoid contact with sacred objects.
- Being mindful of gestures, like not pointing your feet at religious icons or touching someone’s head.
- Asking for permission before taking photos, especially during religious or cultural events.
- Observing and following the lead of locals when joining festival activities.
- Showing gratitude for hospitality and keeping noise levels low in sacred spaces.
Conclusion
To conclude, these festivals in Nepal are more than just celebrations. They are a way of life filled with tradition and a deep sense of community. The streets come alive with the mesmerizing dance in Indra Jatra and the gentle glow of oil lamps in Tihar throughout the country. Each of them carries a belief, a tradition passed down through generations. Visit Nepal to experience them and be part of something truly special.
