Nepal uses three official calendar systems, including the Vikram Samvat as the main and national calendar as well as for 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 31 days in the year 2079 B.S[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 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 | Mata Tirtha Aunsi | Religious | Aama ko mukh herne din. |
| April 25 | Ram Nawami | Religious | Birth date of Lord Ram |
| May 1 | Majdur Diwas | Non-religious | International labor 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. |