Dashain Explained: Nepal's 15-Day Festival
What Dashain is, which days matter, what closes across Nepal, and how the festival affects travel, transport and trekking logistics in October.
Photo by Kabita Darlami on Pexels
Dashain is Nepal's longest festival — 15 days in September or October — and the country effectively stops for the last five. Expect closed offices, full buses, doubled fares and empty cities. Trekking routes stay open and lodges stay staffed.
The days that matter#
Of the fifteen days, four change what you can do:
- Ghatasthapana (day 1) — the festival opens. Everything is still normal.
- Fulpati (day 7) — government offices close. Permit counters shut.
- Maha Ashtami and Maha Nawami (days 8–9) — animal sacrifices at temples; Taleju in Kathmandu Durbar Square opens for the only day of the year.
- Vijaya Dashami (day 10) — the tika day. Families travel to elders. Long-distance transport is full and priced accordingly for three days either side.
| Day | Name | What closes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghatasthapana | Nothing |
| 7 | Fulpati | Government offices, permit counters |
| 8–9 | Ashtami, Nawami | Most shops outside tourist areas |
| 10 | Vijaya Dashami | Almost everything; transport is full |
If you are in Kathmandu for it, the Durbar Square guide covers which days the temples open.
What it means for trekking#
Teahouses stay open — the staff are mostly from the region and the trekking season is their income. What changes is the approach: jeep and bus seats to Besisahar, Syabrubesi and Jiri are full of people going home, and the Lukla flights are oversubscribed. The trail itself is at its emptiest in the two days around Vijaya Dashami.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dashain in 2027?
Dashain follows the lunar calendar, so the Gregorian dates move each year — it falls in late September or October. Check the Bikram Sambat calendar for the year you are travelling rather than assuming last year's dates.
Will shops and restaurants be open?
In Thamel and Lakeside, mostly yes. Outside the tourist districts, much of Kathmandu closes for days 8 to 11.
Sources and last verified#
- Nepal Government public holiday notice for the 2083 fiscal year, October 2026.
Trekking writer and route researcher
Nitesh has walked the Khumbu, Annapurna and Manaslu routes across four seasons and keeps a running record of teahouse prices, permit changes and flight costs from each trip. He writes the route breakdowns here and re-checks every price table before each trekking season.
- Walked Everest, Annapurna and Manaslu circuits
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
- Based in Kathmandu since 2019
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