Nepal’s calendar is dense with festivals — every month brings something. If you can time your visit to one of the big four, the country becomes a more colourful, louder, brighter version of itself.
Dashain (Sept–Oct)
The largest Hindu festival of the year. Families travel home, kites fill the sky, bamboo swings appear in every village, and the elders bless the youngers with tika (rice and yoghurt on the forehead). Shops shut for a week — plan accordingly.
Tihar (Oct–Nov)
The festival of lights. Houses are outlined in oil lamps and marigold garlands, dogs and cows are honoured on dedicated days, and on the final night sisters bless their brothers with the seven-coloured tika. It’s the prettiest week in Kathmandu.
