Festivals
The festival calendar
Most festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move each year. We confirm every date before we build a plan. Check current status before you travel.
Pokhara & the AnnapurnasPokhara Street Festival
Late December to 1 January, along Lakeside; check current dates
Chitwan & the TeraiMaghi, the Tharu new year
Magh 1, the day of Maghe Sankranti (usually 14 or 15 January)
Lumbini & the Buddha's CountryRidi Mela at Maghe Sankranti
Mid-January, from Maghe Sankranti (Magh 1), for three days
Langtang & ManasluSonam Lhosar
Second new moon after the winter solstice, Magh Shukla Pratipada (late January or February)
Kathmandu ValleyBisket Jatra
Mid-April, around Nepali New Year (Baisakh 1)
Kathmandu ValleyRato Machhindranath Jatra
Late April to June, starting in the month of Baisakh
Lumbini & the Buddha's CountryBuddha Jayanti at Lumbini
Full moon of Baisakh, usually late April or May
Langtang & ManasluSindure Jatra of Nuwakot
Spring, across Chaitra and Baisakh (April to early May)
Eastern NepalSakela (Ubhauli and Udhauli)
Twice a year: Baisakh full moon (Ubhauli, April–May) and Mangsir full moon (Udhauli, November–December)
Eastern NepalPathibhara Pilgrimage Seasons
Busiest around Dashain (Sept–Oct) and Chaite Dashain (March–April); pilgrims come all year
Kathmandu ValleyRato Machhindranath Jatra
Late April to June, starting in the month of Baisakh
Everest & SolukhumbuMani Rimdu
Tengboche: October or November, set by the Tibetan lunar calendar; Thame: usually May; Chiwong in Solu also stages it
Lumbini & the Buddha's CountryBuddha Jayanti at Lumbini
Full moon of Baisakh, usually late April or May
Mustang & DolpoTiji
Three days in the third Tibetan month, usually May (14–16 May in 2026)
Langtang & ManasluSindure Jatra of Nuwakot
Spring, across Chaitra and Baisakh (April to early May)
Eastern NepalSakela (Ubhauli and Udhauli)
Twice a year: Baisakh full moon (Ubhauli, April–May) and Mangsir full moon (Udhauli, November–December)
Far West & KarnaliGanga Dashahara Mela at Khaptad
Jestha Shukla Dashami, late May or June (lunar date)
Kathmandu ValleyGai Jatra
August or September, the day after Janai Purnima
Lumbini & the Buddha's CountryBhagwati Jatra, Tansen
The day after Krishna Janmashtami, late August or early September
Mustang & DolpoYartung
Around the full moon of Janai Purnima, usually August or early September
Mustang & DolpoShey festival (Shey Mela)
Once every 12 years, in the Tibetan year of the Dragon, around August–September (last held 2024; next expected 2036)
Langtang & ManasluJanai Purnima at Gosaikunda
Full moon of Shrawan (usually August)
Far West & KarnaliGaura Parva
Bhadra, usually late August or early September (lunar dates)
Far West & KarnaliBadimalika Janai Purnima Mela
Janai Purnima, full moon of Shrawan, usually August (lunar date)
Kathmandu ValleyIndra Jatra
September, eight days in the lunar month of Yanla (Bhadra)
Kathmandu ValleyGai Jatra
August or September, the day after Janai Purnima
Pokhara & the AnnapurnasDashain and Phulpati in Gorkha
Ashwin–Kartik (late September to October); Phulpati on the seventh day; dates vary each year
Lumbini & the Buddha's CountryBhagwati Jatra, Tansen
The day after Krishna Janmashtami, late August or early September
Mustang & DolpoYartung
Around the full moon of Janai Purnima, usually August or early September
Mustang & DolpoShey festival (Shey Mela)
Once every 12 years, in the Tibetan year of the Dragon, around August–September (last held 2024; next expected 2036)
Eastern NepalPathibhara Pilgrimage Seasons
Busiest around Dashain (Sept–Oct) and Chaite Dashain (March–April); pilgrims come all year
Far West & KarnaliGaura Parva
Bhadra, usually late August or early September (lunar dates)
Pokhara & the AnnapurnasDashain and Phulpati in Gorkha
Ashwin–Kartik (late September to October); Phulpati on the seventh day; dates vary each year
Everest & SolukhumbuMani Rimdu
Tengboche: October or November, set by the Tibetan lunar calendar; Thame: usually May; Chiwong in Solu also stages it
Chitwan & the TeraiChhath
Six days after Laxmi Puja of Tihar, on Kartik Shukla Shashthi (late October to mid-November)
Eastern NepalPathibhara Pilgrimage Seasons
Busiest around Dashain (Sept–Oct) and Chaite Dashain (March–April); pilgrims come all year
Everest & SolukhumbuMani Rimdu
Tengboche: October or November, set by the Tibetan lunar calendar; Thame: usually May; Chiwong in Solu also stages it
Chitwan & the TeraiChhath
Six days after Laxmi Puja of Tihar, on Kartik Shukla Shashthi (late October to mid-November)
Chitwan & the TeraiVivaha Panchami
Fifth day of the bright half of Mangsir (late November to mid-December)
Eastern NepalChasok Tangnam
Full moon of Mangsir (November–December)
Eastern NepalSakela (Ubhauli and Udhauli)
Twice a year: Baisakh full moon (Ubhauli, April–May) and Mangsir full moon (Udhauli, November–December)
Eastern NepalPathibhara Pilgrimage Seasons
Busiest around Dashain (Sept–Oct) and Chaite Dashain (March–April); pilgrims come all year
Pokhara & the AnnapurnasTamu Lhosar
15 Poush in the Nepali calendar, usually 30 December
Pokhara & the AnnapurnasPokhara Street Festival
Late December to 1 January, along Lakeside; check current dates
Chitwan & the TeraiVivaha Panchami
Fifth day of the bright half of Mangsir (late November to mid-December)
Eastern NepalChasok Tangnam
Full moon of Mangsir (November–December)
Eastern NepalSakela (Ubhauli and Udhauli)
Twice a year: Baisakh full moon (Ubhauli, April–May) and Mangsir full moon (Udhauli, November–December)