Festivals & Events
The festival calendar of Thimi and Bhaktapur, sorted by what comes next.
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar. Dates shown are approximate — confirm with a local calendar (patro) before you travel.
Indra Jatra and Kumari Jatra
Eight days in Kathmandu's Basantapur honouring Indra, god of rain, with the raising of the yosin pole, masked dances and the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.
Happening now11 October 2026 – 25 October 2026Dashain (Bada Dashain)
Nepal's biggest festival: fifteen days honouring the goddess Durga, ending with tika and blessings from elders. In Bhaktapur and Thimi it is also the season of sacred masked dances.
In 13 days20 October 2026 – 15 June 2027Nava Durga masked dances of Bhaktapur
A troupe of masked dancers embodying the forms of Durga tours the neighbourhoods of Bhaktapur for about eleven months each year.
In 22 days6 November 2026 – 11 November 2026Tihar, Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat New Year
Five days of lights honouring crows, dogs, cows, the goddess Lakshmi and brothers — and for the Newar community of Thimi and Bhaktapur, a new year and the worship of one's own body.
In 39 days14 November 2026 – 15 November 2026Chhath
Devotees stand in rivers and ponds to offer prayers to the setting and rising sun — a Madhesi festival now celebrated at ghats across the Kathmandu Valley.
In 47 days23 December 2026Yomari Punhi
The full moon of winter, when Newar families steam yomari — sweet rice-flour dumplings filled with molasses and sesame — to celebrate the rice harvest.
In 86 days15 January 2027Maghe Sankranti
The first day of the month of Magh marks the turning of winter towards warmer days, celebrated with sesame sweets, sweet potatoes, ghee and holy dips in rivers.
In 109 days7 February 2027Sonam Losar
The new year of the Tamang, Hyolmo and other communities, celebrated with dances, feasts and prayers — and a public holiday across Nepal.
In 132 days6 March 2027Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva: fasting, bonfires and all-night vigils. Near Sanothimi, Doleshwor and Kailashnath Mahadev draw huge crowds.
In 159 days21 March 2027 – 22 March 2027Holi (Fagu Purnima)
The spring festival of colours, when streets in Sanothimi and Bhaktapur fill with coloured powder, water balloons and music.
In 174 days6 April 2027Ghode Jatra and Pahan Charhe
The horse festival: the Nepal Army races horses at Tundikhel, while Newar neighbourhoods of Kathmandu celebrate Pahan Charhe with processions of mother goddesses.
In 190 days10 April 2027 – 18 April 2027Bisket Jatra (Biska)
Bhaktapur's nine-day New Year festival: giant chariots of Bhairav and Bhadrakali, a tug-of-war between halves of the city, and a towering pole raised and felled to mark the new year.
In 194 days14 April 2027Sindoor Jatra, Thimi
On Nepali New Year's Day, some thirty-two deity palanquins spin through Thimi while the crowd throws clouds of red vermilion powder.
In 198 days15 April 2027Jibro Chhedne Jatra, Bode
The day after New Year, a volunteer in Bode has his tongue pierced and carries a flaming frame of lamps around the village.
In 199 days20 May 2027Buddha Jayanti
The full moon of Baisakh marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, Nepal. Stupas and monasteries glow with butter lamps.
In 234 days10 June 2027Sithi Nakha
Just before the monsoon, Newar communities clean wells, ponds and water spouts, worship Kumar (Kartikeya), and feast on bara and other pulses.
In 255 days17 August 2027Janai Purnima and Kwati Punhi
On the Shrawan full moon men change their sacred thread, everyone ties a protective raksha bandhan on the wrist — and Newar families eat kwati, the nine-bean soup.
In 323 days18 August 2027Gai Jatra in Bhaktapur
The festival of cows, when families who lost someone during the year join a procession — and Bhaktapur turns grief into dance, satire and tall decorated towers.
In 324 days25 August 2027Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Krishna is celebrated with fasting, songs and all-night vigils — most famously at the stone Krishna Mandir of Patan Durbar Square.
In 331 days4 September 2027Haritalika Teej
Women in red saris fast, sing and dance in honour of Parvati and Shiva — filling Shiva temples, including Pashupatinath and Doleshwor, with colour and music.
In 341 daysRead about each festival
Indra Jatra and Kumari Jatra
Eight days in Kathmandu's Basantapur honouring Indra, god of rain, with the raising of the yosin pole, masked dances and the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.
Read more → · 2 min
Dashain (Bada Dashain)
Nepal's biggest festival: fifteen days honouring the goddess Durga, ending with tika and blessings from elders. In Bhaktapur and Thimi it is also the season of sacred masked dances.
Read more → · 2 min
Nava Durga masked dances of Bhaktapur
A troupe of masked dancers embodying the forms of Durga tours the neighbourhoods of Bhaktapur for about eleven months each year.
Read more → · 2 min
Tihar, Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat New Year
Five days of lights honouring crows, dogs, cows, the goddess Lakshmi and brothers — and for the Newar community of Thimi and Bhaktapur, a new year and the worship of one's own body.
Read more → · 2 min
Chhath
Devotees stand in rivers and ponds to offer prayers to the setting and rising sun — a Madhesi festival now celebrated at ghats across the Kathmandu Valley.
Read more → · 1 min
Yomari Punhi
The full moon of winter, when Newar families steam yomari — sweet rice-flour dumplings filled with molasses and sesame — to celebrate the rice harvest.
Read more → · 1 min
Maghe Sankranti
The first day of the month of Magh marks the turning of winter towards warmer days, celebrated with sesame sweets, sweet potatoes, ghee and holy dips in rivers.
Read more → · 1 min
Sonam Losar
The new year of the Tamang, Hyolmo and other communities, celebrated with dances, feasts and prayers — and a public holiday across Nepal.
Read more → · 1 min
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva: fasting, bonfires and all-night vigils. Near Sanothimi, Doleshwor and Kailashnath Mahadev draw huge crowds.
Read more → · 1 min
Holi (Fagu Purnima)
The spring festival of colours, when streets in Sanothimi and Bhaktapur fill with coloured powder, water balloons and music.
Read more → · 1 min
Ghode Jatra and Pahan Charhe
The horse festival: the Nepal Army races horses at Tundikhel, while Newar neighbourhoods of Kathmandu celebrate Pahan Charhe with processions of mother goddesses.
Read more → · 1 min
Bisket Jatra (Biska)
Bhaktapur's nine-day New Year festival: giant chariots of Bhairav and Bhadrakali, a tug-of-war between halves of the city, and a towering pole raised and felled to mark the new year.
Read more → · 2 min
Sindoor Jatra, Thimi
On Nepali New Year's Day, some thirty-two deity palanquins spin through Thimi while the crowd throws clouds of red vermilion powder.
Read more → · 1 minJibro Chhedne Jatra, Bode
The day after New Year, a volunteer in Bode has his tongue pierced and carries a flaming frame of lamps around the village.
Read more → · 1 min
Buddha Jayanti
The full moon of Baisakh marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, Nepal. Stupas and monasteries glow with butter lamps.
Read more → · 1 min
Sithi Nakha
Just before the monsoon, Newar communities clean wells, ponds and water spouts, worship Kumar (Kartikeya), and feast on bara and other pulses.
Read more → · 1 min
Janai Purnima and Kwati Punhi
On the Shrawan full moon men change their sacred thread, everyone ties a protective raksha bandhan on the wrist — and Newar families eat kwati, the nine-bean soup.
Read more → · 1 min
Gai Jatra in Bhaktapur
The festival of cows, when families who lost someone during the year join a procession — and Bhaktapur turns grief into dance, satire and tall decorated towers.
Read more → · 2 min
Krishna Janmashtami
The midnight birth of Krishna is celebrated with fasting, songs and all-night vigils — most famously at the stone Krishna Mandir of Patan Durbar Square.
Read more → · 1 min
Haritalika Teej
Women in red saris fast, sing and dance in honour of Parvati and Shiva — filling Shiva temples, including Pashupatinath and Doleshwor, with colour and music.
Read more → · 1 min