Dashainदशैं
Dashain is the longest and biggest Nepali festival: fifteen days of family, jamara and tika from elders, celebrating good over evil.
Culture
Nepali festivals, explained
For anyone who grew up with these festivals but never had them explained: what each one is, how families mark it, and what the rituals mean. Customs differ from family to family; these are the common threads.
Festivals through the year
Tiharतिहार
Tihar is the five-day festival of lights: crows, dogs and cows honoured, Laxmi welcomed with lamps, deusi and bhailo songs, and Bhai Tika.
Teejतीज
Teej is the women's festival of late summer: a feast the night before, a day of fasting, red saris, songs and dancing, and prayers at Shiva temples.
Chhathछठ
Chhath is the four-day festival of the Sun from the Madhesh and Mithila: fasting, and offerings to the setting and rising sun from the water's edge.
Nepali New Yearनयाँ वर्ष
Nepali New Year is the first day of Baisakh, the first month of the Bikram Sambat calendar: family visits, new clothes, and Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur.
Holiहोली
Holi, or Fagu Purnima, is the spring festival of colour: powder and water, songs and sweets, and the story of good winning over evil.
Lhosarल्होसार
Lhosar is the new year of Nepal's Himalayan communities: Tamu for the Gurung, Sonam for the Tamang and Gyalpo for the Sherpa and Tibetan communities.
Buddha Jayantiबुद्ध जयन्ती
Buddha Jayanti marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, Nepal: monastery visits, lamps, prayers and kindness.
Janai Purnimaजनै पूर्णिमा
Janai Purnima is the full moon of Shrawan: the sacred thread is renewed, a protective thread is tied on the wrist, and Newar families eat kwati.
Maghe Sankrantiमाघे संक्रान्ति
Maghe Sankranti is the first day of Magh and the end of Poush's cold: ghee, molasses, sesame laddu and yam, oil massages, and the Tharu new year.
Maha Shivaratriमहाशिवरात्रि
Maha Shivaratri is the night of Shiva: fasting, an all-night vigil, bel leaves and milk for the lingam, and sadhus gathering at Pashupatinath.
Buwa ko Mukh Herne Dinबुवाको मुख हेर्ने दिन
Buwa ko Mukh Herne Din, or Kushe Aunsi, is Nepal's Father's Day: children honour their fathers on the new moon of Bhadra with sweets, gifts and blessings.
Aama ko Mukh Herne Dinआमाको मुख हेर्ने दिन
Aama ko Mukh Herne Din, or Matatirtha Aunsi, is Nepal's Mother's Day: children honour their mothers on the new moon of Baisakh.
Krishna Janmashtamiकृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Krishna at midnight: fasting, a night of bhajan, lamps, and crowds at the Krishna temple in Patan.
Common questions
- What does tika mean?
- Tika is a mark on the forehead given as a blessing. At Dashain it is usually rice, yogurt and red vermilion from an elder; at Bhai Tika in Tihar, sisters give brothers a seven-coloured tika.
- Why do Nepali festival dates change every year?
- Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates move each year. The dates are confirmed each year from the Nepal government calendar.
- Which festival comes first in the autumn?
- Teej comes first, in late summer. Dashain follows in late September or October, Tihar a few weeks later, and Chhath about six days after Laxmi Puja.