Nepali Calendar (Bikram Sambat) 2021
The Nepali festival calendar (Bikram Sambat). Nepali festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
January 2021 Poush – Magh
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Maghe Sankranti
Tithi 10:17 AM, Jan 13 – 9:01 AM
The Sun's entry into Makara, the great winter festival of Nepal.
February 2021 Magh – Falgun
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Basanta Panchami (Saraswati Puja)
Tithi 3:37 AM, Feb 16 – 5:35 AM, Feb 17
The worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami.
March 2021 Falgun – Chaitra
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Maha Shivaratri
Tithi 2:35 PM, Mar 10 – 2:39 PM, Mar 11
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the grand mela at Pashupatinath.
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Fagu Purnima (Holi)
Tithi 3:27 AM, Mar 28 – 12:25 AM, Mar 29
The festival of colours on the full moon of Phalguna.
April 2021 Chaitra – Baishakh
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Ghode Jatra
Tithi 5:55 AM, Apr 11 – 8:00 AM, Apr 12
Kathmandu's horse-racing festival on the dark new moon of Chaitra, said to keep the demon Tundi at bay.
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Bisket Jatra
Tithi 10:13 AM, Apr 13 – 12:47 PM, Apr 14
Bhaktapur's chariot and pole festival welcoming the Nepali solar new year (Baishakh).
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Chaite Dashain
Tithi 12:44 AM – 12:51 AM, Apr 22
The lesser Dashain on Chaitra Shukla Navami, coinciding with Ram Navami.
May 2021 Baishakh – Jestha
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Mata Tirtha Aunsi (Mother's Day)
Tithi 9:55 PM, May 10 – 12:28 AM, May 12
The Baishakh new-moon day honouring mothers, living and departed.
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Akshaya Tritiya
Tithi 3:10 AM, May 13 – 5:39 AM, May 14
An auspicious day for new beginnings on Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya.
June 2021 Jestha – Ashadh
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Ganga Dussehra
Tithi 6:49 PM, Jun 19 – 4:25 PM
The descent of the Ganga, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami.
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Vijaya Dashami
Tithi 6:49 PM, Jun 19 – 4:25 PM, Jun 20
The tenth day of Dashain, when elders give tika and jamara.
July 2021 Ashadh – Shrawan
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Guru Purnima
Tithi 10:37 AM, Jul 23 – 8:06 AM, Jul 24
The full moon of Ashadha honouring teachers and sage Veda Vyasa.
August 2021 Shrawan – Bhadra
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Naag Panchami
Tithi 3:27 PM, Aug 12 – 1:43 PM, Aug 13
Serpent deities are worshipped on Shravana Shukla Panchami.
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Janai Purnima
Tithi 6:58 PM, Aug 21 – 5:28 PM, Aug 22
Hindus change the sacred thread (janai) and tie the raksha protection cord on Shravana Purnima.
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Krishna Janmashtami
Tithi 11:25 PM, Aug 29 – 2:00 AM, Aug 31
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.
September 2021 Bhadra – Ashwin
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Teej (Haritalika Teej) Vrat
Tithi 2:34 AM, Sep 9 – 12:21 AM, Sep 10
Women fast for marital happiness on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.
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Rishi Panchami Vrat
Tithi 9:58 PM, Sep 10 – 7:37 PM, Sep 11
Women worship the seven sages the day after Teej, on Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami.
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Indra Jatra
Tithi 6:00 AM, Sep 19 – 5:16 AM, Sep 20
Kathmandu's great festival of Indra and the living goddess Kumari, from Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi.
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Sorah Shraddha (Pitru Paksha)
Tithi 5:24 AM, Sep 21 – 5:36 AM, Sep 22
The sixteen days of offerings to the ancestors.
October 2021 Ashwin – Kartik
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Ghatasthapana (Dashain Begins)
Tithi 4:38 PM, Oct 6 – 1:47 PM, Oct 7
The first day of Bada Dashain, when the jamara is sown.
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Maha Ashtami / Maha Navami
Tithi 8:05 PM, Oct 13 – 6:49 PM, Oct 14
The climactic eighth and ninth days of Dashain.
November 2021 Kartik – Mangsir
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Tihar (Laxmi Puja)
Tithi 6:03 AM, Nov 4 – 2:52 AM, Nov 5
The festival of lights (Yamapanchak) and the worship of Goddess Lakshmi.
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Haribodhini Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 5:48 AM, Nov 14 – 6:24 AM, Nov 15
The awakening of Lord Vishnu on Kartika Shukla Ekadashi.
December 2021 Mangsir – Poush
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Vivah Panchami
Tithi 11:38 PM, Dec 7 – 9:17 PM
The wedding of Rama and Sita on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami.
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Yomari Punhi
Tithi 7:27 AM, Dec 18 – 10:05 AM, Dec 19
The Newar harvest full moon of Margashirsha, celebrated with sweet yomari dumplings.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
About the Nepali Calendar (Bikram Sambat)
The Nepali festival calendar (Bikram Sambat). Nepali festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
Each entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Dates are shown for the current and the coming year.