Public holidays in Nepal

Last updated

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

Contents

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 35 days in the year 1142 NS. [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 Nepal Sambat calendar dates.

General holidays

The following is the list of holidays for the calendar year 2082 (2025/26 A.D.) in Nepal. [2]

  National
  Religious
  International
  Birth & Anniversay

Day Holiday

DateNameRemarks
Date (B.S.)Date (A.D.)EnglishNepali
Baishak 18May 1 International Workers' Day मजदुर दिवसInternational Workers' Day
Jestha 15May 29 Republic Day गणतन्त्र दिवसRepublic Day in Nepal.
Ashoj 3September 19 Constitution Day संविधान दिवसConstitution Day in Nepal.
Magh 16January 30 Martyrs' Day शहिद दिवसMartyrs' Day in Nepal remembering the first four Martyrs of Nepal.
Fagun 7February 19 Democracy Day प्रजातन्त्र दिवसDemocracy day of Nepal.
Fagun 24March 8 International Women's Day नारी दिवस International Women's Day is celebrated on this day in Nepal.

Festival Holiday

DateNameRemarks
Date (B.S.)Date (A.D.)EnglishNepali
Baishak 1April 14 Nepalese New Year नयाँ बर्षFirst day of Bikram Sambat calendar.
Baishak 29May 12 Buddha Jayanti बुद्द जयन्त्रीBirth date of Lord Gautam Buddha.
Jestha 247 June Eid al-Adha इद उल अजाहा"Sacrifice Feast", the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael.
Shrawan 24August 9 Raksha Bandhan रक्षा बन्धन/जनै पुर्णिमाSacred thread festival, Janai Purnima marks the renewal of the sacred thread by Brahmins. Raksha Bandhan celebrates the holi bond between brothers and sisters.
Shrawan 31August 16 Krishna Janmashtami कृष्णा जन्माअष्टमीCelebrates the birth of Lord Krishna
Ashwoj 6September 22 Ghatasthapana घटस्थापनाThe beginning of Dashain.
Ashoj 13September 29 Fulpati फुलपातीSeventh day of Dashaini when jamara is brought from Gorkha palace to Kathmandu.
Ashoj 14September 30Maha Asthamiमहा अष्टमीThe day to appease Goddess Durga's manifestations, the blood-thirsty Kali.
Ashoj 15October 1 Maha Navami महा नवमीMaha Navami is the last day of Navaratri.
Ashoj 16October 2 Vijayadashami विजया दशमीThis 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.
Ashoj 17October 3YekadashiएकादशीEleventh day of Dashain where the celebration continues.
Ashoj 18October 4DuwadashiदुवादशीThe final official consecutive holiday of Dashain celebration.
Kartik 3October 20 Laxmi Puja लक्ष्मी पुजाIn the morning cows are worshipped. Later, usually during the evenings, Laxmi, Goddess of wealth is worshipped.
Kartik 4October 21Tihar Holidayतिहार बिदाAdditional Holiday
Kartik 5October 22 Mha Puja and Govardhan Puja Nepal Sambat new year.म्ह पुजाMostly Mha Puja celebrates by Newari People.
Kartik 6October 23 Bhaitika भाइ टिकाSisters and brothers wish for each other's safety and well-being. Gifts are exchanged between them.
Kartik 7October 24Tihar Holidayतिहार बिदाAdditional Holiday
Kartik 10October 27 Chhath Parwa छठ पर्वA festival dedicated to Hindu Sun God.
Mangshir 18December 4 Yomari Punhi and Jyapu Diwasयाेमारी पुन्हींA festival marking the end of the rice harvest.
Push 10December 25 Christmas Day क्रिसमस डेBirthday of Jesus Christ.
Poush 15December 30 Tamu Lhosar तमु ल्हाेसारNew year celebrated by the Gurung Community.
Push 27January 11 Prithvi Jayanti पृथ्वी जयन्तीBirthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah.
Magh 1January 15 Maghe Sankranti माघे संंक्रान्तीThe first day of the month of Magh.
Magh 5January 19 Sonam Lhosar शाेनाम ल्हाेसारNew Year celebration by the Tamang community.
Fagun 3February 15 Maha Shivaratri महा शिवरात्रीCelebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva.
Fagun 6February 18 Gyalpo Lhosar ग्याल्पाे ल्हाेसारNew Year of Tibetan Community.
Fagun 18March 2 Fagu Purnima फागु पुर्णिमाAlso known as Holi, the festival of colors. In Terai region of Nepal, this festival is celebrated on the next day.
Fagun 19March 3In Tarai Region
Chaitra 13March 27 Ram Nawami राम नवमीBirth date of Lord Ram
17 Chaitra31 March Eid al-Fitr इद उल फित्रEnd of the month of Ramadan (Festival of Fastbreaking).

Optional holidays

DateNameRemarks
Date (B.S.)Date (A.D.)EnglishNepali
Baishak 1April 14Siruwa Parbaसिरूवा पर्वOnly in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Siraha & Saptari districts.
Jestha 18June 1Bhoto Jatraभाेटाे देखाउने जात्राOnly holiday in Kathmandu Valley
Shrawan 25August 10 Gai Jatra गाइ जात्राHoliday only for Newar Community all over Nepal & Bagmati Province
Bhadra 10August 26 Teej तिजOnly Holiday for women
Bhadra 15August 31 Gaura Parwa गाैरा पर्वOnly in Sudurpashchim Province.
Bhadra 21September 6 Indra Jatra इन्द्र जात्राCelebrated only in Kathmandu valley, so holiday in Kathmandu Valley only
Bhadra 30September 15 Jeetiya Parwa जितिया पर्वOnly for Jeetiya Festival celebrating women.
Kartik 19November 5 Guru Nanak Jayanti गुरू नानक जयन्तीHoliday for only Sikh Community
Kartik 25November 11 Falgunanda Jayanti फाल्गुणन्द जयन्तीHoliday for only Kirat Community
Mangshir 17December 3 International Disabilities Day अन्तराष्ट्रिय अपांगता दिवसHoliday for only Disabled Person.
Mangshir 24November 10 Muhammad Jayanti माेहम्मद जयन्तीHoliday for only Muslim Community
Magh 9January 23 Saraswati Puja सरस्वती पुजाEducational institution only.
Chaitra 4March 18 Ghode Jatra घाेडे जात्राHoliday Only in Kathmandu Valley

Observance Holiday

DateNameRemarks
Date (B.S.)Date (A.D.)EnglishNepali
Bhanu Jayanti भानु जयन्ती
Children's Day बाल दिवस
World Environment Day विश्व वातावरण दिवस

See also

References

  1. "List of public holidays in Nepal". Narayani Law Firm. 12 March 2022.
  2. "List of Holidays for 2082 B.S." (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2025.