Public holidays in Nepal

Nepal uses three official calendar systems, including the Nepal Sambat as the main and national calendar, the Gregorian calendar for international events and Christian holidays, and the Vikram Samvat for Hindu holidays.

Public offices and most private businesses in Nepal operate six days a week and only close on Saturdays. International organizations have their own rules and are normally closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Government holidays for the upcoming year are published in Nepal Gazette. Nepal celebrates a number of religious and non-religious holidays. On most of these holidays, most government offices and private institutions are closed, although is not mandatory for privately owned businesses to close and international organizations may operate their own calendar.

Some of these events are region, religion, or gender-specific. For example, a certain holiday in Nepal can only be for women.

The Government of Nepal has decided to grant a Nation-Wide holiday for a total of 31 days in the year 2079 B.S[1]

The longest consecutive public holiday in Nepal is during Vijaya Dashami. On this festival, holidays fall consecutively i.e. from Fulpati to Duwadashi for seven days. Ghatasthapana and Kojagrat Purnima holidays are part of this festival but are separate from the six-day holiday. These festival holidays do not fall on the same calendar date every year, as they are celebrated on the basis of Lunar dates also known as tithi. Holidays such as Loktantra Diwas (Democracy Day) and Republic day are celebrated on the basis of Bikram Sambat calendar dates.

Public holidays

The following is the list of holidays for the calendar year 2018 in Nepal.

DateHoliday NameHoliday TypeBrief Information
January 11Prithvi JayantiNon-ReligiousBirthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah.
January 15Maghe SankrantiReligiousThe first day of the month of Magh.
January 18Sonam LosarReligiousNew Year celebration by the Tamang community.
January 22Saraswati PujaReligiousEducational institution only.
January 30Shahid DiwasNon-ReligiousMartyr's day in Nepal remembering the first four Martyrs of Nepal.
February 13Maha ShivaratriReligiousCelebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva.
February 16Gyalpo LhosarReligiousNew Year of Tibetan Community.
February 19Prajatantra DiwasNon-ReligiousDemocracy day of Nepal.
March 1Fagu PurnimaReligiousAlso known as Holi, the festival of colors. In Terai region of Nepal, this festival is celebrated on the next day.
March 8Nari DiwasNon-ReligiousInternational Women's day is celebrated on this day in Nepal.
April 14VaisakhiNon-ReligiousFirst day of Bikram Sambat calendar.
April 16Mata Tirtha AunsiReligiousAama ko mukh herne din.
April 25Ram NawamiReligiousBirth date of Lord Ram
May 1Majdur DiwasNon-religiousInternational labor day.
May 29Ganatantra DiwasNon-ReligiousRepublic day in Nepal.
May 31Buddha JayantiReligiousBirth date of Lord Gautam Buddha.
July 17Gai JatraReligiousGai Jatra (Kathmandu Valley Only)
August 26Janai Purnima and Raksha BandhanReligiousSacred thread festival, Janai Purnima marks the renewal of the sacred thread by Brahmins. Raksha Bandhan celebrates the holi bond between brothers and sisters.
GaijatraReligiousA day of commemoration for those who died in the past year. Holiday in Kathmandu Valley only.
September 2Krishna JanmashtamiReligiousCelebrates the birth of Lord Krishna
Gaura ParwaReligiousCelebrated mostly in far western Nepal, this festival is observed in other parts as well.
Indra JatraReligiousCelebrated only in Kathmandu valley, commemorates the founding of Kathmandu.
September 19Sambidhaan DiwasNon-ReligiousConstitution Day in Nepal.
October 10GhatasthapanaReligiousThe beginning of Dashain.
October 16FulpatiReligiousSeventh day of Dashaini when jamara is brought from Gorkha palace to Kathmandu.
October 17Maha AsthamiReligiousThe day to appease Goddess Durga's manifestations, the blood-thirsty Kali.
October 18Maha NavamiReligiousMaha Navami is the last day of Navaratri.
October 19VijayadashamiReligiousThis day is very important day for Nepalese Hindu religion, On Bijaya Dashami mixture of rice, yogurt and vermilion is prepared and is known as Tika. Elders put Tika, Jamara and Kokha on the young ones and give them blessing.
October 20EkadashiReligiousEleventh day of Dashain where the celebration continues.
October 21DuwadashiReligiousThe final official consecutive holiday of Dashain celebration.
October 23Kojagrat PurnimaReligiousFinal full moon day after which Dashain officially ends.
November 7Laxmi PujaReligiousIn the morning cows are worshipped. Later, usually during the evenings, Laxmi, Goddess of wealth is worshipped.
November 8Mha Puja and Govardhan PujaReligiousNepal Sambat new year.
November 9BhaitikaReligiousSisters and brothers wish for each other's safety and well-being. Gifts are exchanged between them.
November 13Chhath ParwaReligiousA festival dedicated to Hindu Sun God.
November 20Prophet Muhammad BirthdateReligious
Yomari Punhi and Jyapu DiwasReligiousA festival marking the end of the rice harvest.
December 25Christmas DayReligiousBirthday of Jesus Christ.
Poush 15Tamu LhosarReligiousNew year celebrated by the Gurung Community.

See also

References

  1. "List of public holidays in Nepal". Narayani Law Firm. 12 March 2022.
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