NAME OF FESTIVAL

DATE

VENUE

DESCRIPTION

New Year
(BIsket Jatra)		13th AprilBhaktapurBhairav & Bhadrakali’s chariots are pulled, celebrate festival all around the Bhaktapur for 9 long days.
Ram Nawami13th AprilAll over the kingdomMain Character of Ramayan – Lord Ram is worshipped espescially at Janakpur.
Bal Kumari Jatra14th AprilThimiTraditional colorful festival/Toungur pearching eve.
Matatirtha Aunsi (Mother’s Day)19th AprilMatatritha near ThankotTake ritual bath at Matatirtha whose mother have died last very year. While living mothers are worshipped offering sweets and gifts.
Rato Machhendranath Temple23rd AprilLalitpurChariot of Lord Machhendranath is pulled through the street of Patan till Jawalkhel and ends the festival with Bhoto (waist coat) Jatra.
Buddha Jayanti4th MayAll over the kingdomPeople pray and worship at Buddhist monasteries especially at Boudhanath and Swaymbhunath.
Sithinakha or Kumari Sarstha25th MayAll over the valleyA day to clean the wells and beginning of the rainy season.
Harisayani Ekadashi28th JuneAll over the kingdomHoliest Ekadashi of the year, worship of Lord Vishnu – the preserver – sacrifices and public sale of meat is prohibited.
Teachers’ worship day2nd JulyAll over the kingdom
Ghanta Karna15th JulyAll Newar SettlementFestival to celebrate the death of demon; Huge statue of straw demons are burned in all the toles of Bhaktapur.
Gunla17th July
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15th August		Kathmandu ValleyBudhhist holy month – All the Buddhist shrine become centers for varieties of religious activities all through month.
Naga Panchami20th AugustAll over the kingdomDay to worship the Naga (Scared Snakes) to protect from water calamities flood.
Rachhya Bandhan / Janai Purnima30th August
Kumbeswor Mela/Sringa Veri JatraLalitpur, BanglamukhiTraditional Musical instruments are decorated and performed.
Cows’ festival (Gai Jatra)31st AugustBhaktapurColorful and Satirical festival – Gai Jatra carnival is paraded around the town.
Matya1st SeptemberLalitpurBuddhist festival of light to honour the victory of Buddha over vice.
Shree KrishnaAastami6th SeptemberAll over the kingdomLord Krishna’s birthday – main character of Hindu epic Mahabharat / Krishna Mandir of Patan Durbar Square is the focus point.
Pancha DanAll over the valley especially – SwambhunathBuddhist priest chants cymas while women, waiting in front of their houses give the priests rice and grains as they surpass.
Gokarana Aunsi
(Nepalese Father’s day)		14th SeptemberAll over the kingdomPeople whose father have died take ritual bath at Gokarna while living fathers are offered with sweets and ifts by their children.
Teej17th SeptemberAll over the kingdomA holy day for woman, women pray to Shiva fasting 24 hours for the well being of their husband and unmarried in a hope of finding husband.
Rishi Panchami19th September
Indra Jatra27th SeptemberKathmandu ValleyChairot of Kumari along with Ganesh and Bhairav is pulled in downtown Kathmandu.
Bala Chaturdasi11th DecemberPashupatinath TempleTaking holy bath in Bagmati River pilgrimage follows the Mrisgasthali forest scattering varieties of seeds remembering of Balla of dead.
Gathasthapana15th OctoberAll over the kingdomBegining of biggest festival and good season, baley seeds are planted and Kalash put in the prayer room to start festival.
Phulpati20th OctoberAll over the kingdom7th day of the festival. Religious items and flowers are brought from Gorkha Durbar for Hanuman Dhoka Parade.
Maha Aastami21st OctoberAll over the kingdomSmall children are worshipped as Ganesh, Kumar and Kumari.
Maha Nawami22nd OctoberAll over the kingdomWorship Durga and Kali sacrificing male animals at Taleju
Dashami23rd OctoberAll over the kingdomMain day of Dashain; Worship Nava Durga at Brahmani Temple of Bhaktapur; Put Tika, bless from elders.
Tihar or Dipawali12th -15th OctoberAll over the kingdomFive day long festival of light, honoring Yama, God of Death.
Chatt Parba (Terai)18th NovemberOne of the most important festival of Terai, worshipping of Sun, taking holy dip in the rivers of pond.
Haribodhani Ekadasi22nd November
Mahalaxmi village pooja for Goddess of Wealth and Harvest
Gujeswori Jatra, worship of the Goddess7th December
Indraiani Puja and Nhaya Gaya Jatra festival
Yomari Puni or Dhanya Purni26th DecemberNewari SettlementCelebrated after rice harvest; praying for the greatfulness of mother Earth and preparing rice cakes.
Maha Shiva Rat ri8th March,2005All over the kingdom, especially at PashupatinathPay homage to Shiva, stay unsleep for whole night in all toles and square.
Bisket Jatra9th April, 2005BhaktapurCultural festival of Bhaktapur celebrated erecting lingum and pulling the idols of Bhairav and Matrika around town.
World Tourism Day27th September 2005All over the kingdomInternational Inviters are felicitated with various detivities.
Maghe Sankranti14th January, 2005All over the kingdomPeople take holy bath in river and eat sweetened seasame balls vain tuber
Tribeni Mela8th February, 2005Salinadi RiverWorship of God Shiva and Parvati and fasting for a month with religious activities at the banks of the Salinadi river, Sankhu.
Nava Durga DanceBhaktapur and Nearby villagesDance of Asta Matrika or Eight mother goddess with TripuraSundari is performed.
Basnata Panchami
(Sakwgo estival)		13th February, 2005All over the kingdomKing receives Tika at Hanuman Dhoka and School children worship goddess of wisdom, music – Saraswati
Tibetain New year (Lhosar)8th March, 2005Sherpa and Lama community
Fagu Purnima (HOLI)25th March, 2005All over the kingdomColorful festival; playing with colors for fun and frolic.
Ghode Jatra8th AprilKathmanduWorship Mapa Deyo and Nepalese Army perform horsemanship and gymnastic at Tundhikhel.
Chaite Dashain / Seto Machhindranath JatraKathmanduChariot of Machhindranath is pulled through the streets from Kathmandu and worship to God of rain.