Public holidays in Nepal

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 normally close 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 longest consecutive public holiday in Nepal is during Vijaya Dashami. On this festival, holidays fall consecutively i.e. from Fulpati to Duwadashi for six 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 2016 in Nepal.

Date	Holiday Name	Holiday Type	Brief Information
January 15	Maghe Sankranti	Religious	The first day of the month of Magh.
January 30	Shahid Diwas	Non-Religious	Martyr's day in Nepal remembering the first four Martyrs of Nepal.
February 9	Sonam Losar	Religious	New Year celebration by the Tamang community.
February 13	Saraswati Puja	Religious	Schools celebrate this day by worshiping Goddess Saraswati, Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music, arts and nature.
February 19	Prajatantra Diwas	Non-Religious	Democracy day of Nepal.
March 7	Maha Shivaratri	Religious	Celebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva.
March 8	International Women's Day	Non-Religious	International Women's day is celebrated on this day in Nepal.
March 22	Fagu Purnima	Religious	Also known as holi, the festival of colors. In Terai region of Nepal, this festival is celebrated on the next day.
April 7	Ghode Jatra	Religious	Observed primarily in Kathmandu valley with horse parades in Tundikhel.
April 13	Nava Barsa	Non-Religious	Nepalese New Year or the first day of Bikram Sambat calendar.
April 15	Ram Nawami	Religious	Birthday of Lord Rama.
May 1	Majdur Diwas	Non-religious	International labor day.
May 21	Buddha Jayanti	Religious	Birth date of Lord Gautam Buddha.
May 28	Ganatantra Diwas	Non-Religious	Republic day in Nepal.
August 18	Janai Purnima and Raksha Bandhan	Religious	Sacred thread festival, Janai Purnima marks the renewal of the sacred thread by Brahmins. Raksha Bandhan celebrates the holi bond between brothers and sisters.
August 19	Gaijatra	Religious	Celebrated only in Kathmandu, this festival worships cows. Also a day when commemoration of the dead takes place.
August 25	Gaura Parwa	Religious	Celebrated mostly in far western Nepal, this festival is observed in other parts as well.
August 25	Krishna Janmashtami	Religious	Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna
September 4	Teej	Religious	Celebrated by mostly women for the wellness of their husband.
September 6	Rishi Panchami	Religious	Celebrated only by women by fasting to show gratitude to the ancient preachers.
September 15	Indra Jatra	Religious	Celebrated only in Kathmandu, commemorates the founding of Kathmandu.
September 20	Constitution Day	Non-Religious	Constitution Day in Nepal.
October 1	Ghatasthapana	Religious	The beginning of Dashain.
October 8	Fulpati	Religious	Seventh day of Dashain when jamara is brought from Gorkha palace to Kathmandu.
October 9	Maha Asthami	Religious	The day to appease Goddess Durga’s manifestations, the blood-thirsty Kali.
October 10	Maha Navami	Religious	Maha Navami is the last day of Navaratri.
October 11	Bijaya Dashami	Religious	This 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 12	Ekadashi	Religious	Eleventh day of Dashain where the celebration continues.
October 13	Duwadashi	Religious	The final official consecutive holiday of Dashain celebration.
October 15	Kojagrat Purnima	Religious	Final full moon day after which Dashain officially ends.
October 30	Laxmi Puja	Religious	In the morning cows are worshipped. Later, usually during the evenings, Laxmi, Goddess of wealth is worshipped.
November 31	Mha Puja and Govardhan Puja	Religious	People worship themselves, oxen and cowdung.
November 1	Bhaitika	Religious	Sisters and brothers wish for each other's safety and well being. Gifts are exchanged between them.
November 6	Chhath Parwa	Religious	A festival dedicated to Hindu Sun God.
December 13	Yomari Punhi	Religious	A festival marking end of rice harvest.
December 30	Tamu Lhosar	Religious	New year celebrated by the Gurung Community.

See also

• List of festivals in Nepal