Matatirtha Aunsi kahile ho? When is Aama ko Mukh Herne Din 2027?

It falls on the new moon of Baisakh, in late April or May. The exact day is confirmed each year from the Nepal government calendar.

Is it the same as Mother's Day in May?

No. Nepal's Mother's Day follows the lunar calendar and falls on the new moon of Baisakh. The US Mother's Day is on a Sunday in May, and many families keep both.

What should I do if my mother has died?

People remember a mother who has died with tarpan, an offering of water, and a bath. Many go to the pond at Matatirtha. At home, a lamp and a few quiet minutes are enough.

Culture · Matatirtha Aunsi · Mata Tirtha Aunsi · Mother's Day

What is Aama ko Mukh Herne Din?

आमाको 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.

What the day is

Aama ko Mukh Herne Din means the day to see your mother's face. It is Nepal's Mother's Day, and it falls on the new moon (aunsi) in the dark fortnight of Baisakh, in late April or May. It follows the lunar calendar, so it moves each year and rarely matches the US Mother's Day.

It is also called Matatirtha Aunsi. Mata means mother and tirtha means a place of pilgrimage: Matatirtha is a pond on the western edge of Kathmandu.

For mothers who are living

Children honour their mother with sweets, clothes and other gifts, cook for her, and spend the day with her. Those who live far away call or visit.

The pond at Matatirtha

People who have lost their mother go to the pond at Matatirtha. A legend says that those who come with love can see their mother's face in its water. They bathe in the pond and offer tarpan, an offering of water, which is believed to help her find peace. Thousands gather at the pond and the small temple beside it on the day.

Aama ko Mukh Herne Din away from home

The day is not a holiday in the US, so most families keep it with a call or a video call, a gift or flowers sent home and a meal she likes. If your mother has died, you can light a lamp and offer tarpan at home or at a temple. Because the day falls in April or May it can be close to the US Mother's Day, and many families keep both.

Common questions

Matatirtha Aunsi kahile ho? When is Aama ko Mukh Herne Din 2027?: It falls on the new moon of Baisakh, in late April or May. The exact day is confirmed each year from the Nepal government calendar.
What does Matatirtha mean?: Mata means mother and tirtha means a place of pilgrimage. Matatirtha is a pond on the western edge of Kathmandu where people remember their mothers.
Is it the same as Mother's Day in May?: No. Nepal's Mother's Day follows the lunar calendar and falls on the new moon of Baisakh. The US Mother's Day is on a Sunday in May, and many families keep both.
What should I do if my mother has died?: People remember a mother who has died with tarpan, an offering of water, and a bath. Many go to the pond at Matatirtha. At home, a lamp and a few quiet minutes are enough.