Festivals & Jatras
8 festivals to explore — living traditions of Nepal
FeaturedIndra Jatra
Kathmandu's most spectacular street festival celebrating the god Indra, featuring the living goddess Kumari's chariot procession.
Kathmandu Durbar Square and old city
FeaturedDashain (Vijaya Dashami)
Nepal's longest and most auspicious festival spanning 15 days, celebrating the victory of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasur.
Nationwide
FeaturedTihar (Deepawali)
Nepal's five-day festival of lights honoring crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and siblings — a uniquely Nepali take on Diwali.
Nationwide
FeaturedBisket Jatra
Bhaktapur's thrilling New Year chariot festival with a dramatic tug-of-war pulling massive chariots through narrow medieval streets.
Bhaktapur
Holi (Fagu Purnima)
The vibrant festival of colors where people drench each other with colored water and powder, celebrating the arrival of spring.
Nationwide (especially Kathmandu, Terai cities)
Buddha Jayanti (Buddha Purnima)
Celebration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, centered on Lumbini and Buddhist sites across Nepal.
Lumbini, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath
Teej (Haritalika Teej)
Nepal's women's festival — three days of fasting, feasting, dancing in red saris, and praying for marital bliss at Pashupatinath.
Nationwide (especially Pashupatinath Temple)
Mani Rimdu
A spectacular three-day Sherpa Buddhist festival at Tengboche Monastery with masked dances against the backdrop of Everest and Ama Dablam.
Tengboche Monastery, Khumbu