Festivals & Jatras
15 jatra festivals
Jatra festivals
Indra Jatra
- When
- September
- Where
- Kathmandu Durbar Square and old city
- Days
- 8 days
Kathmandu's most spectacular street festival celebrating the god Indra, featuring the living goddess Kumari's chariot procession.
Bisket Jatra
- When
- April
- Where
- Bhaktapur
- Days
- 9 days
Bhaktapur's thrilling New Year chariot festival with a dramatic tug-of-war pulling massive chariots through narrow medieval streets.
Neku Jatra
- When
- April
- Where
- Old Kathmandu city wards
- Days
- 1 day
A fierce rain-invoking procession through old Kathmandu with sword-bearing men, historically a martial display tied to the protection of the city.
Rato Machhindranath Jatra
- When
- April/May
- Where
- Patan (Lalitpur) streets, culminating at Jawalakhel
- Days
- 30 days
Nepal's longest chariot festival — a month-long procession pulling the towering chariot of Rato Machhindranath through the streets of Patan, culminating in the dramatic Bhoto Jatra showing of the sacred vest.
Seto Machhindranath Jatra
- When
- March/April
- Where
- Old Kathmandu (Asan, Indra Chowk, Hanuman Dhoka)
- Days
- 3 days
A three-day chariot procession of White Machhindranath through the old streets of Kathmandu, one of the city's most important Newar Buddhist festivals.
Gai Jatra
- When
- August/September
- Where
- Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur)
- Days
- 1 day
The Kathmandu Valley's most unique festival — a colorful procession honoring the recently deceased, blending mourning with comedy, satire, and street theater.
Ghode Jatra
- When
- March/April
- Where
- Tundikhel parade ground, Kathmandu
- Days
- 1 day
Kathmandu's dramatic horse racing festival at Tundikhel, where galloping horses and military displays are believed to trample the demon Gurumapa and keep evil at bay.
Matya
- When
- August
- Where
- Patan (Lalitpur)
- Days
- 1 day
Patan's extraordinary Buddhist pilgrimage-in-a-day — a single-day procession covering every major Buddhist shrine in the city, honoring the deceased.
Pahan Charhe
- When
- September/October
- Where
- Pachali Bhairav shrine (Teku) and south Kathmandu
- Days
- 1 day
A dramatic night-time chariot procession of Pachali Bhairav through south Kathmandu, accompanied by tantric rituals, animal sacrifice, and a flaming torch procession.
Chandeshwori Jatra
- When
- April/May
- Where
- Banepa, Kavrepalanchok
- Days
- 3 days
Banepa's most important festival celebrating Goddess Chandeshwori's victory over the demon Chandasur, featuring a grand chariot procession.
Bajrayogini Jatra
- When
- April
- Where
- Sankhu, Kathmandu
- Days
- 8 days
Sankhu's oldest jatra, when the goddess Bajrayogini is carried down from her hilltop temple into the ancient town in a major Newar-Tamang celebration.
Shikali Jatra
- When
- October
- Where
- Khokana, Lalitpur
- Days
- 9 days
Khokana's alternative to Dashain, a multi-day village festival dedicated to the goddess Shikali or Rudrayani with masked dances, processions, and tantric ritual.
Mahalaxmi Jatra
- When
- October/November
- Where
- Balambu, Chandragiri, Kathmandu
- Days
- 3 days
Balambu's grand 'Laa Tii Mar' festival following Nepal Era New Year, where Ganesh and Mahalaxmi chariots are danced through the streets by nine Guthis in bare feet.
Panauti Jya: Punhi
- When
- May/June
- Where
- Panauti, Kavrepalanchok
- Days
- 3 days
Panauti's major monsoon jatra, held around the full moon of Jestha, when the town's protective deities are taken out in procession before the farming season intensifies.
Sindur Jatra
- When
- April
- Where
- Thimi (Madhyapur Thimi), Bhaktapur
- Days
- 1 day
Thimi's vivid vermilion festival on Baisakh 2, when palanquins of local deities circle Balkumari amid music, torchlight, and clouds of sindur.
Month-by-month calendar
Plan around Nepal’s festival calendar — see what’s coming in every month of the year.
View calendar →Durbar Squares & Bahals
The ancient courtyards and palace squares where jatras, masked dances, and chariot processions come alive.
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