Festivals of Nepal

Nepal is a land of Festivals. For the Nepalese, festivals are not merely the annual spectacles, but also are a living part of their rich cultural heritage. Festivals effectively bind together the Nepalese people of diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs into one nation. Most Nepalese festivals are related to different Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses and they are celebrated on such days consecrated for them by religion and tradition.

Others are observed in honor of personal relatives such as festivals of Matatirtha and Gaijatra. Yet other are held to herald the different seasons or to mark the beginning or end of agricultural cycle. Some festivals are of national significance such as Dashain or Tihar; some are confined to the Katmandu Valley, while still others are celebrated only within one or two villages or cities.

Nepal has more festivals than the number of days in a year. A festival is always a meaningful and memorable event in the life of Nepalese people. Every festival has some purpose to serve. From bringing in the rain to honoring the dead or averting calamities, every festival has something spiritual about it. Festival is a way of life in Nepal. With the number of festivals that Nepal has, it is one of the best ways to understand and appreciate the Nepalese ways of life.

Months	Festivals
Jan - Feb	Sweta Machendranath Snan Swasthani Puja Maghe Sankranti Saraswati Puja
Feb - Mar	Maha Shivaratri Losar Phagu Purnima
Mar - April	Chaitra Dasai Ghode Jatra
April - May	Biska Jatra Nepali New Year Rato Machendranath Jatra Budhha Jayanti
May - June	Gunla Janai Purnima
July - Aug	Gunla Janai Purnima
Aug - Sept	Gai Jatra Krishna Astami Teej
Sept - Oct	Indra Jatra Dasain
Oct - Nov	Mani Rimdu Tihar
Nov - Dec	Bala Chaturdasi Bibah Panchami