Public holidays in Nepal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Weekends in Nepal are different for each sector. All schools and government offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays whereas most private offices are only closed on Saturdays. 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 )(all school closed)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 2083 (2026/27 A.D.) in Nepal.[2]
Day Holiday
| Date | Name | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date (B.S.) | Date (A.D.) | English | Nepali | |
| Baishak 18 | May 1 | International Workers' Day | मजदुर दिवस | International Workers' Day |
| Jestha 15 | May 29 | Republic Day | गणतन्त्र दिवस | Republic Day in Nepal. |
| Ashoj 3 | September 19 | Constitution Day | संविधान दिवस | Constitution Day in Nepal. |
| Magh 16 | January 30 | Martyrs' Day | शहिद दिवस | Martyrs' Day in Nepal remembering the first four Martyrs of Nepal. |
| Fagun 7 | February 19 | Democracy Day | प्रजातन्त्र दिवस | Democracy day of Nepal. |
| Fagun 24 | March 8 | International Women's Day | नारी दिवस | International Women's Day is celebrated on this day in Nepal. |
Festival Holiday
| Date | Name | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date (B.S.) | Date (A.D.) | English | Nepali | |
| Baishak 1 | April 14 | Nepali New Year | नयाँ बर्ष | First day of Bikram Sambat calendar. |
| Baishak 18 | May 1 | Buddha Jayanti | बुद्द जयन्त्री | Birth date of Lord Gautam Buddha. |
| Eid al-Adha | इद उल अजाहा | "Sacrifice Feast", the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael. | ||
| Bhadra 12 | August 28 | Raksha Bandhan | रक्षा बन्धन/जनै पुर्णिमा | Sacred thread festival, Janai Purnima marks the renewal of the sacred thread by Brahmins. Raksha Bandhan celebrates the holi bond between brothers and sisters. |
| Bhadra 19 | September 4 | Krishna Janmashtami | कृष्णा जन्माअष्टमी | Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna |
| Ashwoj 25 | September 22 | Ghatasthapana | घटस्थापना | The beginning of Dashain. |
| Ashoj 31 | October 17 | Fulpati | फुलपाती | Seventh day of Dashaini when jamara is brought from Gorkha palace to Kathmandu. |
| Kartik 1 | October 18 | Maha Asthami | महा अष्टमी | The day to appease Goddess Durga's manifestations, the blood-thirsty Kali. |
| Kartik 2 | October 19 | Dashain Holiday | दशैं बिदा | Additional Holiday |
| Kartik 3 | October 20 | Maha Navami | महा नवमी | Maha Navami is the last day of Navaratri. |
| Kartik 4 | October 21 | Vijayadashami | विजया दशमी | 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. |
| Kartik 5 | October 22 | Yekadashi | एकादशी | Eleventh day of Dashain where the celebration continues. |
| Kartik 6 | October 23 | Duwadashi | दुवादशी | The final official consecutive holiday of Dashain celebration. |
| Kartik 22 | November 8 | Laxmi Puja | लक्ष्मी पुजा | In the morning cows are worshipped. Later, usually during the evenings, Laxmi, Goddess of wealth is worshipped. |
| Kartik 23 | November 9 | Tihar Holiday | तिहार बिदा | Additional Holiday |
| Kartik 24 | November 10 | Mha Puja and Govardhan Puja Nepal Sambat new year. | म्ह पुजा | Mostly Mha Puja celebrates by Newari People. |
| Kartik 25 | November 11 | Bhaitika | भाइ टिका | Sisters and brothers wish for each other's safety and well-being. Gifts are exchanged between them. |
| Kartik 26 | November 12 | Tihar Holiday | तिहार बिदा | Additional Holiday |
| Kartik 29 | November 15 | Chhath Parwa | छठ पर्व | A festival dedicated to Hindu Sun God. |
| Push 9 | December 24 | Yomari Punhi and Jyapu Diwas | याेमारी पुन्हीं | A festival marking the end of the rice harvest. |
| Push 10 | December 25 | Christmas Day | क्रिसमस डे | Birthday of Jesus Christ. |
| Poush 15 | December 30 | Tamu Lhosar | तमु ल्हाेसार | New year celebrated by the Gurung Community. |
| Push 27 | January 11 | Prithvi Jayanti | पृथ्वी जयन्ती | Birthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah. |
| Magh 1 | January 15 | Maghe Sankranti | माघे संंक्रान्ती | The first day of the month of Magh. |
| Magh 24 | February 7 | Sonam Lhosar | शाेनाम ल्हाेसार | New Year celebration by the Tamang community. |
| Fagun 22 | March 6 | Maha Shivaratri | महा शिवरात्री | Celebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva. |
| Fagun 25 | March 9 | Gyalpo Lhosar | ग्याल्पाे ल्हाेसार | New Year of Tibetan Community. |
| Chaitra 7 | March 21 | Fagu Purnima | फागु पुर्णिमा | Also known as Holi, the festival of colors. In Terai region of Nepal, this festival is celebrated on the next day. |
| Chaitra 8 | March 22 | In Tarai Region | ||
| Ram Nawami | राम नवमी | Birth date of Lord Ram | ||
| Eid al-Fitr | इद उल फित्र | End of the month of Ramadan (Festival of Fastbreaking). | ||
Optional holidays
| Date | Name | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date (B.S.) | Date (A.D.) | English | Nepali | |
| Siruwa Parba | सिरूवा पर्व | Only in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Siraha & Saptari districts. | ||
| Bhoto Jatra | भाेटाे देखाउने जात्रा | Only holiday in Kathmandu Valley | ||
| Bhadra 13 | August 29 | Gai Jatra | गाइ जात्रा | Holiday only for Newar Community all over Nepal & Bagmati Province |
| Bhadra 19 | September 4 | Gaura Parwa | गाैरा पर्व | Only in Sudurpashchim Province. |
| Bhadra 29 | September 14 | Teej | तिज | Only Holiday for women |
| Ashoj 9 | September 25 | Indra Jatra | इन्द्र जात्रा | Celebrated only in Kathmandu valley, so holiday in Kathmandu Valley only |
| Ashoj 18 | October 4 | Jeetiya Parwa | जितिया पर्व | Only for Jeetiya Festival celebrating women. |
| Mangshir 8 | November 24 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | गुरू नानक जयन्ती | Holiday for only Sikh Community |
| Falgunanda Jayanti | फाल्गुणन्द जयन्ती | Holiday for only Kirat Community | ||
| Mangshir 17 | December 3 | International Disabilities Day | अन्तराष्ट्रिय अपांगता दिवस | Holiday for only Disabled Person. |
| Poush 15 | December 30 | Dura Maipu Nakuma | Dura people | |
| Muhammad Jayanti | माेहम्मद जयन्ती | Holiday for only Muslim Community | ||
| Magh 28 | February 11 | Saraswati Puja | सरस्वती पुजा | Educational institution only. |
| Chaitra 23 | April 5 | Ghode Jatra | घाेडे जात्रा | Holiday Only in Kathmandu Valley |
Observance Holiday
| Date | Name | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date (B.S.) | Date (A.D.) | English | Nepali | |
| Jestha 21 | June 4 | Untiuchablity Abolished Day | ||
| Jestha 22 | 5 June | World Environment Day | विश्व वातावरण दिवस | |
| Ashar 29 | 13 July | Bhanu Jayanti | भानु जयन्ती | |
| Shrawan 13 | 29 July | International Tiger Day | ||
| Bhadra 22 | September 7 | Civil Service Day | ||
| Bhadra 23 | September 8 | Genz Martyrs Day | ||
| Bhadra 29 | 14 September | Children's Day | बाल दिवस | |
| Mangshir 25 | 11 December | Mountain Day | ||