With at least ten long weekends, 2021 brings some good news for people who like to travel and celebrate a lot.

Though Nepal is a small Himalayan nation, it is rich in cultural diversities of around 125 ethnic, tribal, and social groups. The Nepali Government has acknowledged a number of holidays every month to accommodate all the major festivals, traditions, and cultures.

Here, we have enlisted all the public holidays and observances in Nepal in 2021 that includes national holidays, bank holidays, government holidays, and religious holidays.

List of Nepal Public Holidays 2021

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As per tradition, women worshipped the Saptarshis – the seven saints mentioned in the Hindu scriptures.

On Rishi Panchami, it is customary for women to set up the Saptarshis and worship them. The festival is celebrated on the third of the Teej observances. It is observed on the fifth day of the bright half-moon of Bhadra month on the Nepali calendar.

Women reaching their menstruation period observe Rishi Panchami with fervor and utmost respect. They observe fast and pay homage to the Saptarishis with the belief that they’ll be forgiven of all their sins committed during their menstrual cycle.

As part of the rituals for the day, women wake up early in the morning and bathe in a nearby lake, pond river or stream.

They cleanse their body with 365 Apamarga stems (a medicinal plant) and take a bath using cow dung, soil or ash from sacred places.

The women then say the given prayers and eat grains, guava, Kandamul and wild fruits for a single meal and continue to maintain their fast.

The Shrisheshwar Temple in Teku receives a large number of devotees on this holy day.

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As per the lunar calendar, the festival falls on the third day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Bhadrapad. Teej coincides with the monsoon season and heralds the arrival of rains. During the Teej festival, married women pray for the longevity, prosperity and happiness of their husbands, while girls who are yet to tie the knot pray for attaining a happy married life. The Teej celebrations last for three days with each day having its own importance.

Day 1: “Dar Khane Din”

The first day of the festival is known as “Dar Khane Din” and is a time for merrymaking. Women dressed up at their best in red or bridal clothes gather at a common place to celebrate with traditional dancing and singing. They partake in a grand feast called “Dar” with a variety of foods that include rice porridge, yogurt, sel, puri, fruits and desserts. The celebrations continue until midnight after which the 24-hour period of fasting begins.

Day 2: The Day of Fasting

On day two, women and girls observe a strict fast without consuming even a drop of water. They visit the nearby Shiva temples and make offerings of flowers and fruits to the deities. The Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu is thronged by a large number of devotees. Lighting of the oil lamp is considered an important part of the puja and the lamp is kept lit throughout the night to avoid any bad omen.

Day 3: Rishi Panchami

Rishi Panchami is the third day of the festival when women take a holy bath with the red mud from the roots of the Datiwan bush, which is believed to purify them from all sins. The seven rishis of the Hindu pantheon are then worshipped. Karkalo vegetable with rice and ghee is consumed as the major food on this day.

This year Hartalika Teej falls on Thursday 24th August. A large number of tourists from abroad have been visiting Nepal in recent years during the Teej period to experience the grand celebrations which include Teej fairs, folk songs and colorful dances. Teej in Nepal is a period of great rejoicing and also the time for strengthening the relationships between women, couples and their families.

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