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 2020 | Maghi | New Year of the Tharu and Magar ethnic groups mainly celebrated in the Teraï |
| 24 Feb 2020 | Tibetan New Year | Tibetan New Year / Sherpa Losar |
| 21 Feb 2020 | 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 |
| 20 -21 Mar 2020 |
Holi | Celebration of colors, Holika Demon Holocaust celebration giving rise to battles of water and colors in Kathmandu (March 20th) in the Teraï (March 21st) and in all India |
| 13 Apr 2019 | 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 parade of wagons effigies of Bhairav and Bhadra and struggles taking place around a great tower ceremonial |
| 19-21 May 2020 | Teeji | Sacred Dance Festival and Revelation of Tanka Celebrating the Arrival of Spring in Lo Manthang Capital of Mustang |
| 01 -02 Apr / 27 Apr 2020 | 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 |
| 03 Aug 2020 | Janai purnima | Festival where Bhramin and Chettri castes (born twice) change the sacred cord they wear and moment 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) |
| 01 - 05 Sep 2020 | 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 |
| 23 - 30 Oct 2020 | Dashain | 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 |
| 15 - 17 Nov 2020 |
Tihar | Festival of lights, dipawali in India culminating with Pooja in Laxmi, goddess of prosperity and the blessing of the brothers by their sisters |
INDIA
| 07 - 09 Feb 2020 |
Jaisalmer | Fair and camel races and festivities around the Thar desert citadel |
| 30 Jan - 02 Feb 2020 |
Nagaur | Great livestock fair |
| March 2020 | Stok Guru Tse Chu | Winter Festival of Sacred and Masked Dances at Stok Ladakh Monastery |
| 09 March 2020 | Holi | Celebration of Holika's Holocaust giving rise to water and color battles in Kathmandu and especially in Terai and all of India |
| 08 - 09 March 2020 |
Matho Nagrang | Winter festival of sacred and masked dances at the monastery of Matho Ladakh |
| November 2020 | Pushkar | Festival of the creator god Bhrama, which gives rise to a great fair and the oldest festivities of Rajasthan |
BHUTAN
| 05 - 07 Mar 2020 | TrongsaTshechu & Lhuentse Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 08 - 22 Apr 2020 | Punakha Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 08 - 12 Apr 2020 | Chhorten Kora | Ritual Circumstances of Stupa and Pooja |
| 01 - 03 Apr 2020 | Gomphu Kora | Ritual Circumstances of Stupa and Pooja |
| 01 - 03 Apr 2020 | Gasa Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 4 - 8 Apr 2020 | Paro Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 4 - 8 May 2020 | Ura Yakchoe | Village Festival of Spring Celebration |
| 30 Jun - 01 Jul 2020 | Nimalung Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 30 June 2020 | Kurjey Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 05 Sep 2020 | Dragon Tour | Bike race |
| 22 Sep 2020 | Thimphu Drubchen | Pooja ritual |
| 24 - 26 Sep 2020 | Wangdue Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 26 - 28 Sep 2020 | Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Bike race |
| 26 - 28 Sep 2020 | Thimphu Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 29 Sep - 02 Oct 2020 | Thangbi Mani | Pooja rituel |
| 24 - 26 Oct 2020 | Chhukha Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 11 Nov 2020 | Black Necked Crane Festival | Festival celebrating the animal symbol of the Phobjika Valley, the black-necked crane |
| 21 - 24 Nov 2020 | Mongar Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 22 - 25 Nov 2020 | Trashigang Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 30 Nov 2020 | Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Pooja ritual of Jambey Lhakhang monastery in JAkar - Bhumthang |
| 21 - 24 Nov 2020 | Pemagatshel Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 30 Nov - 02 Dec 2020 | Nalakhar Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
| 13 Dec 2020 | Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Holy masked dance festival and revelation of Thangka - sacred painting |
TIBET
| 5 June 2020 | Mount Kailash Dharpoche | Saka Dawa Festival, celebrating Guru Rinpoche - Padma Sambhava |
| 20-22 July 2020 | Gyantse Dhamak | Yogurt Festival giving rise to festivities including horse races |
| 31 July 2020 | Labrang Festival | Sacred Dance Festival celebrating Guru Rinpoche with giant Thangka revelation, archery and horse racing |
| 24.25 February 2020 | Tibetain New Year (Losar) | Celebration in the families for the new year, various rituals and festivities the following days in monasteries in Tibet |