This was our third adventure with Exoticca

The popular festivals in Nepal are profuse and varied; its multiculturalism makes it one of the broadest holiday calendars in the world. For this reason, you can find events in Nepal during practically the whole year.

The traditions and culture of the Nepali population, mainly Hindu and Buddhist, mark the celebration of holidays in Nepal. On the other hand, travelers must bear in mind that the Nepalese calendar is a solar calendar which is totally different from our Gregorian calendar.

Be that as it may, the popular festivals in Nepal are spread throughout its geography. Let's see what the most traditional festivities of this multi-ethnic people are.

January - Prithvi Jayanti

On 15 January, the Nepalese celebrate the Prithvi Jayanti, which is the day on which homage is paid to the late King Prithvi Narayan, the founder of the current state of Nepal. This celebration gathers the population in front of the Singha Durbar temple, dressed in garlands with which to decorate the king's statue.

February - Sonam Losar

In February, specifically on the fifth, Sonam Losar takes place, one of the most traditional popular festivals in Nepal. This holiday commemorates the New Year for the Tamang ethnic group, who follow the Chinese-Tibetan calendar. Prior to the festivities, the Nepalese are thoroughly employed in cleaning their homes and decorating them, as well as placing offerings on family altars.

March - Maha Shivaratri

March is a particularly festive month, as it hosts different events in Nepal to celebrate various festivities. We start on 4 March with the Maha Shivaratri, or pilgrimage to the Hindu temple Pashupatinath. The faithful go to the temple to ask Shiva for their wishes by performing prayers and offerings.

On March 7, groups of Nepalese belonging to the Sherpa, Yolmo, Yuppie or Tibetan ethnic groups celebrate their new year, the Gyalpo Losar. This holiday is related to the Buddhist religion.

We arrive on 17 March to celebrate one of the most striking festivities in Nepal, the Ghode Jatra or Festival of Horses. This massive popular festival is specially celebrated in Kathmandu.

And the month ends with the celebration of Holi, on 20 March, a festival which is deeply rooted in the Hindu population of Nepal. The streets are filled with bright colors, dances, and songs.

April - Ram Navami

We continue with the popular festivals in Nepal, this time on 14 April, when Ram Navami takes place, a religious celebration which consists of a procession of the statues of the gods Rama and Sita through the streets of Nepal.

Also in April, on the same day, the Nepalese New Year is celebrated throughout the country according to the official calendar, so you will find numerous events, processions, picnics, food, and traditional music.

May - Buddha Jayanti

In May, you will be able to attend one of the most sacred festivals in Nepal in relation to the Buddhist religion: Buddha Jayanti or the birth of Buddha. Cities of the Buddhist tradition, such as Bodnath, are filled with flowers, lights, and flags. The birds, which have remained in cages until that moment, are released and prayers are recited in the temples.

On 28 May, on the other hand, the country celebrates the Day of the Republic of Nepal, a day to honor and celebrate democracy.

June - Ramjan Edul Fikra

On 5 June, the Muslim population of Hindu origin in Nepal celebrates the end of Ramadan with large banquets, drinks, and music in the company of family and friends. This festival is known as Ramjan Edul Fikra, and it is an optional holiday which Nepalese may or may not include in their holiday calendar.

July and August - Feast of the Fraternity

During the warmer months, the Raksha Bandhan or the Feast of the Fraternity takes place in different regions of Nepal. This celebration is a way for Nepalese people to gather families to celebrate their blood ties together.

September - Hartalika Teej

September is once again one of the months with the most popular parties in Nepal. The month begins on the 1st with the festival in honor of the goddess Parvati, the Hartalika Teej, a celebration during which the women dress in red and celebrate the festivities in honor of their goddess for three days.

Once the celebration of Parvati is over, the Rishi Panchami begins on the 3rd; during this festivity, the Nepalese Hindus recite the oldest Vedic texts in honor of the seven rishis or sages of the ancient Hindu tradition.

October - Dashain Festival

October is a perfect month to visit Nepal, not only because of the weather but because it hosts the most famous popular festivals in Nepal. First, on the 8th, the Dashain Festival, the most important party in the country, is celebrated. There are kite competitions, the streets are decorated and there is abundant typical gastronomy.

The month ends with the celebration of Diwali on the 27th, carpets of flowers and lights flood the streets and houses of Nepal. It is one of the most beautiful and lively parties in the country.

November and December - Guru Nanak Jayanti

During the month of November, Guru Nanak Jayanti takes place, one of the most important events in Nepal for the Sikh community. The followers of this religion organize nocturnal meetings to leave offerings in the temples, to share gifts and food.

In December, on the other hand, the Tamu ethnic group celebrates its New Year, which takes place on 30 December. It should be noted that the western Christmas is also celebrated in many places in Nepal.

Now you can match your trip with one of the popular festivals of Nepal to enjoy the cultural tradition of this incredible country.

There are a great variety of very tasty and healthy dishes to eat in Nepal, as it has rich gastronomy. In the kingdom of the Himalayas, rice is the basis of the food, as well as cereals, pulses, and vegetables. As a consequence, the traditional dishes of Nepal are varied and well-balanced.

The first thing that will surprise you about Nepalese gastronomy is its delicious breakfasts.  Although the Nepalese begin the day with a bowl of rice and tea, there are various types of breakfasts for travelers, each one more delicious and abundant. Not content with this, it is the custom in Nepal to have a second breakfast, this time with a spicy soup of vegetables and pulses.

But breakfasts apart, let’s take a look at what to eat in Nepal and which are the most traditional dishes of this country.

Momos

You will find momos in all places and at all times of the day. They are pasty stuffed with vegetables or meat. To make them, the Nepalese fry or steam them and they are served with two types of sauce.

They can be eaten as a starter, for breakfast, as an afternoon snack or for supper. They are delicious and are the perfect way to appease hunger cravings. They are prepared with lean meat, onions, garlic, ginger, coriander, and salt.

Dal Bhat

We could say that this is the national dish of Nepal, along with the momos. More than a dish, it is a tray with white boiled rice, accompanied by various bowls of vegetables, fish or meat, and lentil soup, as well as vegetables.

This filling dish is very reminiscent of the traditional Hindu dish, the Thali, which in Nepal is also accompanied with a Naan or Indian bread.

Noodles

Apart from rice, something else to eat in Nepal is noodles. These are fried with onion and tomato, and egg, chicken or vegetables are also added. This is a very tasty dish which can also be eaten at any time.

There is also a soup version, called Thukpa, which is similar to the Japanese Ramen. To make this noodle soup, Tibetans add onions, garlic, ginger, tamari, tomatoes, and hot peppers.

Sha-Balé

This Nepalese specialty consists of round-shaped pasties filled with meat. They are made from minced beef or lamb, to which are added onions, ginger, crushed garlic, cumin, soya sauce, sesame oil, flour, and water. The result is finger-licking good.

Kongpo Shaptak

Another traditional dish to try in Nepal, and one which you must not miss if you love meat, is the Kongpo Shaptak. To prepare this delicacy they use beef, red onion, paprika, garlic, ginger, tomato, blue cheese, and jalapeno peppers. The meat is cut into small cubes and fried with the above ingredients. It is served accompanied with rice or with a traditional Naan.

Mar Jasha

For those who love chicken, we recommend you try this recipe for butter chicken. This is one of the tastiest traditional dishes of Nepal which is prepared with butter, powdered chili, cashew nuts, garlic, ginger, and tomato puree. Added to this mixture are curry, garam masala (cinnamon, cloves and cardamon), lemon juice, turmeric, and yogurt. The result is a marinated chicken which bursts with flavor in your mouth.

Shamday

This traditional dish of Nepalese gastronomy is a Tibetan curry whose main ingredient is veal or lamb. The meat is cut into small cubes, along with some potatoes. You can also substitute the meat with tofu. It is fried with onion, garlic, and ginger, and then seasoned with salt and turmeric.

To accompany the dish, they serve boiled bean and seaweed noodles, along with boiled white rice, and then sesame oil and curry are added. The resulting dish has a spectacular flavor.

Hot Pot

The hot pot is a hot metal casserole containing a stew which is full of meat and vegetables. There is also a vegetarian version with egg and a vegan version with tofu. This dish has Chinese origins and is perfect for recovering your strength after a day out trekking in the mountains.

Nepalese soups

The Nepalese prepare different types of soups, among which the most famous is the garlic soup which prevents altitude sickness. Another traditional soup of Nepalese gastronomy is the Aloo Tama or potato soup with curry and bamboo shoots. You can also find the Thukpa or noodle soup that we mentioned previously, with either vegetables or chicken. Or there is the famous Bhaat Tarkari, a soup made of lentils, rice, and vegetable curry.

And to finish with something sweet after so many flavors, what better than the famous Juju Dhau or creamy yogurt. Don’t forget to try the famous Sikarni, or the yogurt shakes with cinnamon and dried fruit, at any time of the day.

Nepal is a country that will surprise you, not only due to the beauty of its landscapes, its mountains, and its temples, but also because of the kindness of its people, and the richness of its gastronomy. So now you know what to eat in Nepal, organize your meals so that you are well prepared to try everything.

For those who don’t know what to buy in Nepal, we would tell them to start getting their suitcase ready because there are lots of souvenirs you will want to take home with you. Wooden and bronze handicrafts, mountain clothing, Buddhist religious objects, tea, jewelry and a long etcetera of typical products.

This South Asian country is multicultural, multilingual and has been secular since 2008. Although Hinduism was the official religion up until 2006, the Buddhist population also makes up a significant percentage in Nepal.

Thamel in Kathmandu is the central shopping area, so if you want to buy typical products of Nepal, you have to visit the city.  Let’s see what the most typical souvenirs are that travelers usually take home and what you can buy in Nepal.

Mountain clothing

The fact that the Himalayas can be accessed from Nepal means that millions of tourists who love hiking and trekking visit the country each year.  The business of mountain clothing at a good price has grown exponentially in recent years.

For this reason, one of the things to buy in Nepal is mountain clothing at a good price.  Indeed, there are many forgeries, so you have to look properly where to buy to obtain the quality necessary for tackling your adventure in the snowy mountains.

Hippie clothing

Nepal is one of the main producers of this kind of clothing which is sold in nearly all Spanish street markets.  All types of colorful garments made of wool or cotton and some with natural dyes, fill the street stalls and the shops.

The price of this style of clothing is very low in comparison with the sales price on Spanish street stalls and tourist beaches.  However, don't forget to haggle since they will try to sell to you at a higher price.

Precious and semi-precious stones

If you want to buy turquoise by weight, Nepal is the ideal place to do so.  Other stones used in jewelry such as amethyst, jade, amber and lapis lazuli are also sold.  Choral is another of the typical products of Nepal which is used to make decorations and accessories.

Nepalese jewelry

Nepal has a strong tradition in jewelry, they form part of the country’s culture. The Nepalese artisans mostly use copper, but also gold and silver to make the pieces.  Amongst their creations, it is common to see jewelry with representations in Sanskrit, the religious language of Buddhism.

You will be able to find rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and a myriad of jewelry to buy in Nepal as a gift.  Normally they are hand carved according to thousand-year-old traditions and are combined mostly with turquoise and amber.

Religious objects

Within the category of souvenirs in Nepal, religious objects take up a prominent place.   Everywhere you will see figurines of gods from the Hindu pantheon, Buddha figures, malas (Tibetan rosaries), prayer wheels, prayer flags, and everything related to the Buddhist religion.

Other typical products of Nepal par excellence are the Tibetan bowls.  These bowls which are made of 7 metal alloys produce a very specific sound, highly valued by music therapists and followers of the New Age.  Its harmonics promise to balance the chakras and heal the body and mind from all types of energetic blocks.

Kukri knives

These typical Nepalese knives are the ones the Gurkha fighters carried, so it could be one of the most original souvenirs from Nepal. They are of great value given that their blade curves like the handle and sheath that protect them, they are hand carved or even with inlays of bones, ivory or metal.

The importance of these knives is such that, from the age of five, a Nepalese child has their own knife.  Each part of it has a very specific religious and cultural meaning, so you won't just be buying a typical product of Nepal, but also a piece of its culture.

Antiques

Of all the things to buy in Nepal, antiques take up a prominent place. You can find true works of art in the form of antique furniture decorated with bright colors, boxes, musical instruments, jewelry, sculptures or paintings.

In Thannel there are antique shops with certificates of authenticity where you can buy unique pieces of great value.  In these establishments, of course, haggling is not permitted.  To do this, you will have to be daring in the street stalls, but there you will probably find replicas or forgeries.

Tea and spices

The fact that its population is multi-ethnic, but with clear Hindu influences, means this country uses spices abundantly in its gastronomy. Accordingly, you can buy hundreds of rich spices in the stalls and markets as a souvenir of Nepal.

Tea, in turn, is another of the main players, and a must buy in Nepal, you have a wide range of teas: black tea, chai tea, cardamom tea, green tea, and peppermint tea.  There are also mixes of herbs, sold as medicinal tea with a high purifying value.

As you can see, you have a long list of things to buy in Nepal, along with the art of haggling, it will be difficult for you to resist the temptation of bringing back lots of souvenirs from your trip.