Calendar of festivals
CALENDAR OF FESTIVALS AND FESTIVITIES IN NEPAL - INDIA - BHUTAN - TIBET
Below is the calendar of Festivals to be held in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Tibet.
NEPAL
| 15 Jan 2024 | Maghi | New Year of the Tharu and Magar ethnic groups mainly celebrated in the Teraï |
| 11 March 2024 | Tibetan New Year | Tibetan New Year / Sherpa Losar |
| 8 Feb 2024 | Shiva Ratri | Night of the lord Shiva, when the god is celebrated by libations, dances and use of narcotics in the interesting temple of Pashupatinath |
| 24 March 2024 | Holi | Celebration of colors, Holika Demon Holocaust celebration giving rise to battles of water and colors in Kathmandu (March 6) in the Teraï (March 7) and in all India |
| 12 & 13 Apr 2024 | Bisket Jatra | Newar tantric festival of Bhaktapur and Thimi coinciding (coincidentally) with the Nepalese New Year commemorating the great battle and victory of the good over the evil of Mahabarath with a parade of wagons effigies of Bhairav and Bhadra and struggles taking place around a great tower ceremonial |
| 5 - 7 May 2024 |
Teeji | Sacred Dance Festival and Revelation of Tanka Celebrating the Arrival of Spring in Lo Manthang Capital of Mustang |
| 2024 | Seto & Rato machendranath | Giant chariot parade carrying the statue of the god Machendranath, Seto - white in Kathmandu, Rato - red in Patan, and Bungamati (syncretism of Indra god of the Hindu rain and Avalokiteswar Bodisatva of compassion for Hindus) taking place at the end of April beginning of May so to summon rain for an early monsoon |
| 19 & 20 Aug 2024 | Janai Purnima Gai Jatra |
Festival where Bhramin and Chettri castes (born twice) change the sacred cord they wear and moments of festivities and pilgrimages to the sacred lakes including Gosaikunda (Langtang), the gathering of animist shamans give rise to dances, trances, and festivities and the Gai Jatra Festival (Sacred Cow Parade in Memory of the Dead) |
| 15 - 21 Sep 2024 | Indra Jatra | Parade of chariot in tribute to Indra god of the rain and king of the gods, where appears the Kumari living protective goddess of Kathmandu |
| 10 - 13 Oct 2024 | Dashain | A 12-day festival symbolizing the victory of Ram (Vishnu's avatar) on the Ravan demon and where the elders bless their cadets real national holiday of Nepal |
| 1 - 3 Nov 2024 | Tihar | Festival of lights, Diwali in India culminating with Pooja in Laxmi, goddess of prosperity and the blessing of the brothers by their sisters |
| Full moon of the 6* Tibetan month | Festival of Dho / Tarap | Great religious festival at the monastery of Riwo Bumpa - Dho Tarap. |
INDIA
| Jaisalmer | Fair and camel races and festivities around the Thar desert citadel | |
| Nagaur | Great livestock fair | |
| Stok Guru Tse Chu | Winter Festival of Sacred and Masked Dances at Stok Ladakh Monastery | |
| Holi | Celebration of Holika's Holocaust giving rise to water and color battles in Kathmandu and especially in Terai and all of India | |
| Matho Nagrang | Winter festival of sacred and masked dances at the monastery of Matho Ladakh | |
| Pushkar | Festival of the creator god Bhrama, which gives rise to a great fair and the oldest festivities of Rajasthan |
BHUTAN
| 2024 | TrongsaTshechu & Lhuentse Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 19 - 23 Feb 2024 | Punakha Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 24 Feb 2024 | Chhorten Kora | Ritual Circumstances of Stupa and Pooja |
| 19 Mar 2024 | Gomphu Kora | Ritual Circumstances of Stupa and Pooja |
| 16 - 19 Mar 2024 | Gasa Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 21 - 25 Mar 2024 | Paro Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 20 -24 Apr 2024 | Ura Yakchoe | Village Festival of Spring Celebration |
| 14 - 16 June 2024 | Nimalung Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 16 June 2024 | Kurjey Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 2024 | Dragon Tour | Bike race |
| 8 - 10 Sep 2024 | Thimphu Drubchen | Pooja ritual |
| 11 - 13 Sep 2024 | Wangdue Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 13 - 15 Sep 2024 | Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Bike race |
| 13 - 15 Sep 2024 | Thimphu Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 17 - 19 Sep 2024 | Thangbi Mani | Pooja rituel |
| 9 - 11 Nov 2024 | Chhukha Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 11 Nov 2024 | Black Necked Crane Festival | Festival celebrating the animal symbol of the Phobjika Valley, the black-necked crane |
| 19 - 22 Nov 2024 | Mongar Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 10 - 14 Nov 2024 | Trashigang Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 18 - 21 Sep 2024 | Jampa Lhakhang Drup | Pooja ritual of Jambey Lhakhang monastery in JAkar - Bhumthang |
| 15 - 17 Oct 2024 | Pemagatshel Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 8 -10 Dec 2024 | Nangkor Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| Dec 2024 | Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
TIBET
| 23 May 2024 | Mount Kailash Dharpoche | Saka Dawa Festival, celebrating Guru Rinpoche - Padma Sambhava |
| 20 - 22 July | Gyantse Dhamak | Yogurt Festival giving rise to festivities including horse races |
| 18 July 2024 | Labrang Festival | Sacred Dance Festival celebrating Guru Rinpoche with giant Thangka revelation, archery and horse racing |
| 10 March 2024 | Tibetain New Year (Losar) | Celebration in the families for the new year, various rituals and festivities the following days in monasteries in Tibet |