Hindu Festival Calendar

The first day of the Bikram Sambat calendar — Nepal's national New Year, celebrated with feasts and gatherings.

An ancient New Year chariot festival of Bhaktapur, where the towering Bhairav and Bhadrakali chariots are pulled and the ceremonial Lingo pole raised and toppled.

The birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, observed across Nepal with lamps, prayers and processions at Lumbini and the Kathmandu stupas.

A day to honour the guru, the dispeller of darkness — sacred to Veda Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas.

The full moon of Shrawan when sacred threads (janai) are changed and Raksha Bandhan is tied; at Pashupatinath the Raksha Bandhan thread is also offered.

The thread of protection tied between brothers and sisters, on the full moon of Shrawan.

The midnight birth of Lord Krishna, kept with fasting, jhankis and the breaking of the dahi handi.

A women's festival of fasting for the welfare of husband and family, dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, with songs, swings and red dress.

The ten-day festival honouring the elephant-headed lord, remover of obstacles.

The first day of the fifteen-day Dashain, when barley (jamara) is sown for the Goddess Durga and the sacred Ghat is established.

The victory of Rama over Ravana; effigies of Ravana are burned across India.

The grand tenth day of Dashain — Nepal's biggest festival — when elders place the tika and jamara on younger ones, the goosebump moment of the Nepali year.

A day when married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life of their husbands.

The first day of Tihar (Yamapanchak), when crows — the messengers of Yama — are offered food.

The most beautiful night of Tihar — homes glow with diyo lamps and rangoli to welcome Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth.

The festival of lights — Lakshmi Puja, rows of diyas, fireworks and sweets.

The finale of Tihar — sisters place a seven-coloured tika on their brothers for long life, the cherished sibling bond of the festival.

The bond between brothers and sisters, the fifth day of the Diwali festival.

The worship of the Sun god with offerings at riverside, celebrated widely in the Terai (Nepal) and eastern India.

The full moon of Kartik, when the gods are said to light their own Diwali on the ghats of Kashi.

The wedding day of Rama and Sita, celebrated with great splendour in Ayodhya and especially Janakpur (Nepal).

The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Nepal's winter solstice festival of til, ghee and sweets, marking the start of the holy month of Magh with good fortune.

The Sun turns north into Capricorn — a day of holy dips, kite-flying and the winter harvest; kept as Pongal and Lohri too.

The first day of spring, sacred to Saraswati, the goddess of learning, music and speech — in Nepal also the day Saraswati (Basanta Panchami) is worshipped for knowledge.

The great night of Shiva, kept with fasting, the chant of Om Namah Shivaya and an all-night vigil — at Pashupatinath, Nepal's grandest Shivratri.

The festival of colours — in Nepal Fagu Purnima, celebrated joyfully in Kathmandu's Basantapur, and across India the festival of Radha-Krishna and spring.

The new year in the Deccan and Maharashtra; the same day begins Chaitra Navratri.

The birth of Lord Rama, the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri.

An eternally auspicious day for beginnings, charity and buying gold — good deeds never diminish.