When you arrive in Nepal, you'll notice newspapers and documents dated more than 50 years in the future. That's because Nepal uses its own official calendar, the Bikram Sambat (BS).
Quick answer: Bikram Sambat is about 56 years and 8 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar. Most of 2026 is 2083 BS. The year begins on 1 Baisakh, in mid-April, and months vary between 29 and 32 days.
The 12 months
| Nepali month | Approximate dates |
|---|---|
| Baisakh | mid-April to mid-May |
| Jestha | mid-May to mid-June |
| Asar | mid-June to mid-July |
| Shrawan | mid-July to mid-August |
| Bhadra | mid-August to mid-September |
| Ashwin | mid-September to mid-October |
| Kartik | mid-October to mid-November |
| Mangsir | mid-November to mid-December |
| Poush | mid-December to mid-January |
| Magh | mid-January to mid-February |
| Falgun | mid-February to mid-March |
| Chaitra | mid-March to mid-April |
Festivals and the lunar calendar
Many festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move each year. That's why Dashain, Tihar and Holi fall on different dates every year. See our festivals guide.
Nepal Sambat
The Newar community also uses Nepal Sambat, a lunar calendar whose new year falls during Tihar.
Tips for travellers
- Saturday is the weekly holiday.
- Check visa and permit dates in the Gregorian calendar.
- Apps and websites convert between BS and AD.
Converting between BS and AD
To get a rough Bikram Sambat year from a Gregorian (AD) date, add 57 to the AD year for dates from mid-April to December, and add 56 for dates from January to mid-April. For example, October 2026 falls in 2083 BS, and February 2027 also falls in 2083 BS, until the new year in mid-April 2027 begins 2084 BS. Because the lengths of the Nepali months change each year, exact day-to-day conversion requires a calendar or app. Most Nepali newspapers, banks and government offices show both dates on documents and websites.
Where the calendar came from
The Bikram Sambat is named after the legendary King Vikramaditya of Ujjain in India, traditionally said to have founded the era in 57 BCE to celebrate a victory. It is a solar-lunar (luni-solar) calendar used historically across much of northern India, and in Nepal it was adopted as the official calendar by the Rana rulers in the early 20th century, replacing the Shaka era in official use. Nepal is now the only country that uses Bikram Sambat as its official national calendar. Each year, months and days are calculated by astrologers and the official calendar committee, based on the positions of the sun and moon.
Days of the week
| English | Nepali |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Aaitabar |
| Monday | Sombar |
| Tuesday | Mangalbar |
| Wednesday | Budhabar |
| Thursday | Bihibar |
| Friday | Shukrabar |
| Saturday | Shanibar |
Saturday (Shanibar) is the weekly holiday in Nepal, and offices and schools are usually closed. Sunday is a working day for most government offices, though arrangements have varied and some places close on Sundays too. Shops in tourist areas are open every day.
Lunar calendar and tithi
Alongside the solar months, Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, which divides each lunar month into two fortnights: shukla paksha (the bright, waxing fortnight) and krishna paksha (the dark, waning fortnight). Each lunar day is called a tithi. Festivals are fixed to tithis: for example, Maha Shivaratri falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Falgun, and Buddha Jayanti on the full moon of Baisakh. Because lunar months are shorter than solar months, festival dates move by up to several weeks from year to year. Every two or three years, an extra lunar month (adhik maas) is added to keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned.
Major festivals by Nepali month
| Month | Festivals (typical) |
|---|---|
| Baisakh | Nepali New Year, Bisket Jatra, Buddha Jayanti (sometimes Jestha) |
| Shrawan / Bhadra | Janai Purnima, Gai Jatra, Krishna Janmashtami, Teej, Indra Jatra |
| Ashwin / Kartik | Dashain, Tihar, Chhath |
| Poush / Magh | Tamu Lhosar, Maghe Sankranti, Sonam Lhosar |
| Falgun | Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Gyalpo Lhosar (often) |
| Chaitra | Ghode Jatra, Ram Navami (sometimes) |
See our festival calendar and festivals of Nepal.
Other calendars used in Nepal
- Nepal Sambat: the traditional Newar lunar calendar, whose new year falls during Tihar, celebrated with Mha Puja. It has received official recognition and is used alongside Bikram Sambat.
- Tibetan calendar: used by Sherpa, Tibetan and other Himalayan Buddhist communities, with Gyalpo Lhosar as the new year.
- Gregorian calendar: used for international business, flights, visas and tourism.
- Islamic calendar: used by Nepal's Muslim community for religious festivals such as Eid.
Practical tips in more detail
- When booking with Nepali businesses, confirm whether dates are in BS or AD.
- Visa and permit dates are issued in the Gregorian calendar.
- Bills and receipts may show BS dates; check carefully for expiry dates on products.
- Festival dates are announced in advance; check them each year when planning.
- Nepali calendar apps show BS dates, festivals and auspicious days, and are widely used.
The Nepali New Year
The Nepali New Year (Naya Barsha) falls on 1 Baisakh, usually 13 or 14 April. It is a public holiday, celebrated with family gatherings, picnics, concerts, and greetings of "Naya barsha ko shubhakamana" (Happy New Year). In Bhaktapur, it coincides with the dramatic Bisket Jatra festival, with its chariot tug-of-war and the raising and lowering of a giant pole. Many people visit temples in the morning, and hotels and restaurants hold special events. See Bisket Jatra.
Auspicious dates and astrology
The Nepali calendar is closely tied to astrology. Each year's official calendar, the patro, marks auspicious days (saait) for weddings, house-warmings, starting businesses and journeys, as well as inauspicious periods. Families consult astrologers (jyotishi) for important events, and wedding seasons cluster around auspicious months, with peaks in Mangsir, Magh and Falgun. You may notice that many weddings take place on the same days, filling the streets with bands and processions. Some months, such as Poush, are considered inauspicious for weddings.
The calendar and seasons
Nepal traditionally recognises six seasons (ritu), each of about two months: Basanta (spring, Chaitra–Baisakh), Grishma (early summer, Jestha–Asar), Barkha (monsoon, Shrawan–Bhadra), Sharad (early autumn, Ashwin–Kartik), Hemanta (late autumn, Mangsir–Poush) and Shishir (winter, Magh–Falgun). The farming year, festivals and even food follow these seasons. For example, rice planting takes place in Asar, and the harvest in Kartik and Mangsir.
Fiscal year
Nepal's fiscal year runs from 1 Shrawan (mid-July) to the end of Asar (mid-July of the following year). The government announces its budget at the end of Jestha (late May). Businesses and tax documents follow this year, which can be important for business travellers and those working in Nepal.
Public holidays
Nepal has many public holidays, most of them tied to festivals that follow the lunar calendar. The longest is Dashain, when offices and schools may close for a week or more, followed by Tihar. Other national holidays include the Nepali New Year, Buddha Jayanti, Republic Day (Jestha 15, late May), Constitution Day (Ashwin 3, around 19–20 September), Maha Shivaratri, Holi, the three Lhosars, Chhath, Christmas and Eid, among others. Some holidays apply only to certain regions or communities, such as Holi on different days in the hills and Terai. Check the current year's list when planning, as banks and offices close on holidays.
Learning the months
For visitors, learning a few Nepali months is useful and fun. Baisakh (April–May) brings the new year and spring heat; Asar (June–July) is rice-planting time; Shrawan (July–August) is the heart of the monsoon; Kartik (October–November) is the season of Tihar and clear skies; and Poush (December–January) is the coldest month. Many Nepalis talk about the seasons and festivals in terms of these months, so knowing them helps you follow conversations.