Kathmandu Local Events

For the Nepalese, religious festivals and cultural celebrations are intertwined with their daily lives and a part of their rich cultural heritage, and as such there is always an event in Kathmandu. Check here often for the latest news and Kathmandu events.

Most of the important Nepalese festivals are celebrated in Kathmandu and in the heart of the city at Durbar Square. Please note that many business houses and shops are closed a few days before and after festival time. During the festival of "Dasain" in October, most of the city tends to shut down.

Festival of Lights (known as "Tihar" or "Deepawali" or "Diwali") - This five day festival, which is celebrated each year in the last week of October or the beginning of November, takes place on the fifteenth day of "Kartika".

This festival celebrated by Hindus all over the world includes ritual cleaning of homes, burning of lanterns and candles and lighting of firecrackers. The celebrations during Diwali in Nepal are beautiful and involve comparatively less lighting of firecrackers than the celebrations in India.

Holi - This festival, celebrated in the month of March, includes smearing each other with coloured powder and throwing splashes of coloured water; this symbolises good luck but is also very messy!

Bikram New Year - This festival, celebrated in the month of April, is a day of pilgrimages. It often includes a pilgrimage from Kathmandu to the holy river of Bungmati, which separates the city from Patan.

Teej - This is the most important festival for women and is celebrated in the month of September. Married women dress up in their red marriage saris and visit other relatives. Women, both married and unmarried, stay up late at night to pray for their husbands or husbands-to-be in future.

Indra Jatra Harvest Festival - This festival is celebrated for eight days in the month of September at Kathmandu's Durbar Square. Goddess "Kumari" participates in a parade on her sacred chariot.