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.
Rato Machhindranath Jatra
- When
- April/May
- Where
- Patan (Lalitpur) streets, culminating at Jawalakhel
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
Sa Paru — the Kathmandu Valley's most unique festival, a procession honouring everyone who died in the past year, which turns from mourning into comedy and satire by the afternoon.
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 day-long Buddhist pilgrimage on foot — the day after Gai Jatra, thousands of walkers carry lamps and offerings past every Buddhist shrine in the city, from dawn until well after dark.
Pahan Charhe
- When
- March/April
- 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.
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.
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.
Macha:ti Jatra (Trishul Jatra)
- When
- June–July
- Where
- Deupatan (Gwal:dey), Pashupati area
- Days
- 1 day
An ancient one-evening jatra of the Newar community of Deupatan (Gwal:dey), in the Pashupati area of Kathmandu. Also called Trishul Jatra, it carries nine child gods and goddesses on nine tantric chariots in circuit around Ishaneshwar Mahadev, keeping alive legends of children saved from demons and a priest who lost his own son.
Bagh Bhairav Jatra
- When
- August
- Where
- Kirtipur, Kathmandu
- Days
- 1 day
Kirtipur's own one-day jatra on the first day of Bhadra, when an image of Bagh Bhairav, the tiger form of Bhairav and the town's presiding deity, is bathed, worshipped and carried through the old streets with bands, bhajans and Lakhe dance.
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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