Nepali New Year also known as Nepal Sambat is the first day of the start of the new year based on the lunisolar calendar. This calendar is only used by people of Nepal also known as Nepalese people. It is regarded as one of the most popular festivals in Nepal and is celebrated by each and every Nepali citizen located in different places in the country.
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Nepali New Year of Navabarsha is celebrated on the Baisakh 1st of every year which means it falls on April- May. It marks the end of the previous year and the beginning of the new year which implies the beginning of new opportunities, and new enthusiasm and motivates everyone to start something new and fresh.
So if you are more intrigued by the concept of Nepali New Year which is different from the Western New Year and has different significance and want to learn more about it then please let’s delve right into it.
Importance of New Year in Nepal
Nepali New Year is very important and significant for the culture of Nepali people. People all over the world enjoy the day with happiness, rejoicing, and blessings in the hope that the year brings them joy and prosperity.
The lunisolar calendar era began in 879 AD whereas the Nepal Sambat calendar or Nepali New Year calendar only started in 1028 AD. The first ever Nepal Sambat marked in the calendar was Nepal Sambat 148.
At this time the emperor Vikramaditya used to rule the country which is the reason the history of Nepali New Year is directly correspondent to Bikram Sambat highlighting the significance of the said emperor.
The importance of the Nepali New Year mainly resonates with the belief of Nepali people that any old grievances and hardships will be stuck in the previous year, and the new year will now bring joy and prosperity. Nepali New Year is also the symbol of purification or cleanliness as everything is now fresh and clean and nothing is stale which creates new beliefs and enthusiasm among the people.
In Nepali New Year, other festivals are also celebrated alongside the main year like Bisket Jatra which is celebrated mainly by the people of Newari culture. The Jatra is held in Bhaktapur city, where many people celebrate in the street by eating, drinking, and driving a chariot. The government of Nepal also gives public holidays to the Nepalese people
Now that you know how the Nepalese people celebrate the Nepali New Year, it’s time to know how to celebrate the new year in Nepal as a tourist.
How to celebrate Nepali New Year as a Tourist?
Nepali New Year is one of the important and highly celebrated festivals in Nepal and it symbolizes the cultural and traditional importance to the Nepalese people. But it doesn’t mean if you are a tourist you can’t celebrate the festival as well. There are various ways to celebrate Nepali New Year as a tourist and if it is your first experience, you might find it even more special.
Visit Several Temples
Nepali New Year is the first day of the year so many people all over the country visit temples and monasteries to take the blessing of the god and make their coming days special. This day all the temples and monasteries around the valley or in the small village are decorated and the people perform prayers, and rituals. You can also enjoy several rituals and cultural dances along with their foods and drinks.
Experience Bisket Jatra Festival
Nepali New Year also brings one of the most popular, traditional, and exciting festivals in Bisket Jatra. If you are a tourist you should definitely join them as this experience is nothing you have ever experienced anything before. You can try different traditional Newari food, join and witness local songs and dance, and also get involved in chariot progression but you must always be safe and secure around a huge crowd.
Explore and shop in local markets
Nepal government has officially declared a public holiday on the occasion of Nepali New Year so many parents and kids are often on the market. Since there are many people outside of the house to celebrate many new shops are also open in the area. You can enjoy local markets or go to amusement parks, shopping malls, etc to witness a different atmosphere and can also buy local Nepali products from those markets.
Hence these are some of the ways you can enjoy Nepali New Year as a tourist.
Festival Vibes During New Year
Nepali New Year is a huge festival for the people of Nepal and you can find festival vibes in different places of Kathmandu valley.
The three places where you can find the festival vibes in Kathmandu Valley are explained below:
Thimi
Thimi is a small town located in Bhaktapur city. The town is mainly known for pottery making and the celebration of Sindhur Jatra on the third day of the Bisket Jatra. In every Nepali New Year, the people of Thimi celebrate the Sindhur festival where they raise awareness by singing, dancing, and eating local foods and drinks. You will also see one of the best Palanquin Parades where four people carry a sort of chariot in their shoulders and carry them to different places in the Bhaktapur District. The people of Bhaktapur acknowledge them by throwing Orange Sindhoor from their rooftops.
Bode
Bode is another small town in Bhaktapur district where you can find the festival vibes of the Nepali New Year. Every Nepali New Year the tongue piercing ceremony is held in Bode which is participated by different people from Newari, Magar, Tamang, Chettri, and Brahmin culture. You can also participate in the ceremony if you want but overall vibes are amazing as you will feel how close they are with their festival and tradition.
Bisket Jatra
Bisket Jatra is held in different places in the Bhaktapur district where you can see people progressing a large chariot among different places. You can see thousands of people getting assembled in a street and fulfilling their duty of carrying a chariot and also enjoying local foods, drinks, dance, and overall culture where you will surely feel the festival vibes.
Best Trekking Destination During Nepali New Year
Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal which you can enjoy on the occasion of Nepali New Year and lasts for 15 days. The trek is situated in the stunning Khumbu region, which offers gorgeous views of Mt. Everest and its surroundings to visitors.
The trek begins with an exhilarating flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, where we’ll witness some of the most stunning mountain views that you can capture on your camera. After landing on the bank of the Dudh Koshi River in the small village of Phakding, we’ll embark on a journey towards the central town of Namche Bazaar, also known as the gateway to Mount Everest.
Before reaching Namche Bazaar, we have to stop at the place named Monjo which is on the route of Sagarmatha National Park. It is essential to check our trekking permits before reaching Namche Bazaar. We will stay in Namche for two days. On the second day, you can continue your rest and travel to the nearest town center or marketplace or the surrounding villages to learn about their cultures and traditions. Now as we move forward we will come across one of the oldest monastery in Tengboche.
We will rest in the village of Dingboche to acclimatize. After a few hours of rest either we can trek towards the village of Chukung or trek towards Nagarjuna Hills to see the view of the tallest mountains like Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, or Makalu. Our next step will be a trek towards Kala Patthar which lies above an altitude of over 5500m via Gorakhstep.
To get the best view of Mt. Everest, we will hike to Kala Patthar. However, our trek doesn’t end there. We will continue on to the Everest Base Camp, where we will celebrate and enjoy the moment with local Sherpas and our crew. Once we’re done, we will start our return journey to Namche via Periche, before heading back to Lukla. From there, we will board a flight back to Kathmandu, ending our incredible EBC trek which we hope makes your Nepali New Year special.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The next popular trekking destination in Nepal to celebrate Nepali New Year is Annapurna Base Camp Trek which also lasts for 15 days. The ABC trek starts with the beautiful drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara via Prithvi highway on the bank of Trishuli River. After reaching Pokhara we will enjoy scenes of Fewa Lake surroundings and also catch a glimpse of Mount Annapurna and Dhaulagiri but from a far distance. On the next day, we will begin our trek from Nayapul after driving there. The first day involves a challenging climb of over 3000 stone steps to reach Ulleri. We will continue our trek until we reach Ghorepani, a popular resting place for ancient travelers and traders.
We will spend the night there and head up to the stunning viewpoint named Poonhill the next morning. The destination is getting closer as we move towards Dovan followed by a hike to Deurali. After a short trek, we will reach Macchapuchre Base Camp and then finally to Annapurna Base Camp where we will cherish the moment and celebrate with our crew and stay overnight.
The plan for the next morning is to retrace our steps back to the road we came from, passing through Macchapuchre Base Camp and Deurali until we reach Bamboo. From there, we will continue on to Jhinu Dada, where we will have the opportunity to relax and soak in the hot springs. Following that, we will trek back to Nayapul and then drive to Pokhara. The next day, we will drive back to Kathmandu, concluding our unforgettable ABC Trek.
Ghorepani Poonhill Trekking
Finally, another important trekking destination that you can enjoy during Nepali New Year is Ghorepani Poonhill Trekking which lasts for 10 days. The trek starts with the long drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara where we will enjoy Fewa Lake surroundings and enjoy overnight.
The next day takes us to Nayapul via car and then our trek starts as we make our way towards Madi Khola and then we will climb 3000 stone steps towards Ulleri. We will continue trekking until we reach Ghorepani, a rest stop historically used by traders and travelers. After spending the night there, we will head up to Poonhill, a beautiful viewpoint.
We will return to Ghorepani on the same day and stay overnight. The next day we will make our way back to Nayapul and then drive back to Kathmandu. This trek is comparatively less difficult than Annapurna Base Camp and is meant for those who want to experience stunning mountain views but don’t want to go to the base camp.
Hence these are the best trekking destinations for tourists during the Nepali New Year.
Tours During the Nepali New Year
If you don’t want to spend your Nepali New Year by going different trekking you can enjoy it by going on easy but enjoyable tours.
Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour
One of the most common and popular tours from Kathmandu during the Nepali New Year is the tour from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then Chitwan which will be the final destination before returning back.
The tour starts with a trip to Pokhara via drive and once we reach there we will enjoy the amazing surroundings of Fewa Lake and can also enjoy boating on the lake. The next day we will travel to Saranghkot to see the beautiful sunrise and the day continues with sightseeing around Pokhara where we will visit several places like Davis Fall, Chamero Cave, and Mahendra Cave.
The fourth day starts with a drive to Chitwan and check-in at the hotel in the place Shauwra. The next day is full of activities with jungle walks, elephant safari, and also a canoe trip in the river.
The next day starts early with bird watching activity in Chitwan and after having breakfast we will return back to Kathmandu concluding our exciting tour.
Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour
Another way to celebrate Nepali New Year is a whole day Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour also known as Kathmandu World Heritage Tour where you can see different places of Kathmandu city. Some of the special places that you can visit during the Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour are:
- Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Swayambhunath Temple
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Patan Durbar Square
Conclusion
Hence, Nepali New Year 2081 has been very special for the people of Nepal ever since its inception. Many people in different parts of the country celebrate the festival with the hope of new change, opportunity, and happiness in the new days to come.
