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Public holidays in Nepal

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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.

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.

Public holidays

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "List of public holidays in Nepal". Narayani Law Firm. 12 March 2022.
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