Public holidays in Nepal

Nepal uses three official calendar systems, including the Vikram Samvat as the main and national calendar as well as for Buddhist/Hindu holidays, the Nepal Sambat and the Gregorian calendar for international events and 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 35 days in the year 2081 B.S

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.

Date	Holiday Name	Holiday Type	Brief Information
January 11	Prithvi Jayanti	Non-Religious	Birthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah.
January 15	Maghe Sankranti	Religious	The first day of the month of Magh.
January 18	Sonam Losar	Religious	New Year celebration by the Tamang community.
January 22	Saraswati Puja	Religious	Educational institution only.
January 30	Shahid Diwas	Non-Religious	Martyr's day in Nepal remembering the first four Martyrs of Nepal.
February 13	Maha Shivaratri	Religious	Celebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva.
February 16	Gyalpo Lhosar	Religious	New Year of Tibetan Community.
February 19	Prajatantra Diwas	Non-Religious	Democracy day of Nepal.
March 1	Fagu Purnima	Religious	Also known as Holi, the festival of colors. In Terai region of Nepal, this festival is celebrated on the next day.
March 8	Nari Diwas	Non-Religious	International Women's Day is celebrated on this day in Nepal.
April 14	Vaisakhi	Non-Religious	First day of Bikram Sambat calendar.
April 16	Matatirtha Aunsi	Religious	Aama ko mukh herne din.
April 25	Ram Nawami	Religious	Birth date of Lord Ram
May 1	Majdur Diwas	Non-religious	International Workers' Day.
May 29	Ganatantra Diwas	Non-Religious	Republic day in Nepal.
May 31	Buddha Jayanti	Religious	Birth date of Lord Gautam Buddha.
July 17	Gai Jatra	Religious	Gai Jatra (Kathmandu Valley Only)
August 26	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.
	Gaijatra	Religious	A day of commemoration for those who died in the past year. Holiday in Kathmandu Valley only.
September 2	Krishna Janmashtami	Religious	Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna
	Gaura Parwa	Religious	Celebrated mostly in far western Nepal, this festival is observed in other parts as well.
	Indra Jatra	Religious	Celebrated only in Kathmandu valley, commemorates the founding of Kathmandu.
September 19	Sambidhaan Diwas	Non-Religious	Constitution Day in Nepal.
October 10	Ghatasthapana	Religious	The beginning of Dashain.
October 16	Fulpati	Religious	Seventh day of Dashaini when jamara is brought from Gorkha palace to Kathmandu.
October 17	Maha Asthami	Religious	The day to appease Goddess Durga's manifestations, the blood-thirsty Kali.
October 18	Maha Navami	Religious	Maha Navami is the last day of Navaratri.
October 19	Vijayadashami	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 20	Ekadashi	Religious	Eleventh day of Dashain where the celebration continues.
October 21	Duwadashi	Religious	The final official consecutive holiday of Dashain celebration.
October 23	Kojagrat Purnima	Religious	Final full moon day after which Dashain officially ends.
November 7	Laxmi Puja	Religious	In the morning cows are worshipped. Later, usually during the evenings, Laxmi, Goddess of wealth is worshipped.
November 8	Mha Puja and Govardhan Puja	Religious	Nepal Sambat new year.
November 9	Bhaitika	Religious	Sisters and brothers wish for each other's safety and well-being. Gifts are exchanged between them.
November 13	Chhath Parwa	Religious	A festival dedicated to Hindu Sun God.
November 20	Prophet Muhammad Birthdate	Religious
	Yomari Punhi and Jyapu Diwas	Religious	A festival marking the end of the rice harvest.
December 25	Christmas Day	Religious	Birthday of Jesus Christ.
Poush 15	Tamu Lhosar	Religious	New year celebrated by the Gurung Community.

See also

• List of festivals in Nepal