When is Dashain in 2027?
Dashain 2027 starts on Thursday 30 September, but sources disagree by a day on its most important dates. Published calendars agree on the start and the first days, then split on Maha Navami and Vijaya Dashami, the main tika day. The festival follows the moon, and the official calendar for this year (2084 BS) wasn’t published when we checked in November 2026.
| Day | time.now | CalendarLabs | Other sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghatasthapana (day 1) | 30 September | 30 September | Drik Panchang: 30 September |
| Fulpati (day 7) | 6 October | 6 October | |
| Maha Ashtami (day 8) | 7 October | 7 October | |
| Maha Navami (day 9) | 8 October | 9 October | |
| Vijaya Dashami (day 10) | 9 October | 10 October | Drik Panchang: 10 October for New Delhi |
| Ekadashi | 10 October | 11 October | |
| Dwadashi | 11 October | 12 October |
Drik Panchang shows the Dashami lunar day running from 8.55 am on 9 October to 10.59 am on 10 October in New Delhi. That helps explain the split, as a calendar has to pick one, and timing in Nepal may differ from New Delhi. Keep both days free, and confirm close to travel. In 2026, Vijaya Dashami was on 21 October, so no main date remains this year.
What is Dashain?
Dashain is Nepal’s longest and most significant Hindu festival, according to Wikipedia. It marks the victory of good over evil, mainly the goddess Durga’s defeat of the demon Mahishasura. PADT’s website describes it as spanning fifteen days. For many Nepali families, it’s the main time of year to go home. Not everyone marks it. Republica reports that some Kirat families use white tika in place of red, and that some Kirat groups have boycotted the festival.
What happens on the main days?
Most of Dashain takes place in family homes and in temples, not at public events. The table lists the main days. It comes mostly from Wikipedia, whose article is tagged as having some unreliable sources, so treat the details as a general guide.
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1, Ghatasthapana | Barley seeds (jamara) are sown in a sacred pot and kept in a dark room for nine days |
| Day 7, Fulpati | A procession of sacred flowers reaches Kathmandu. Officials attend a ceremony at Tundikhel with a military parade and 21-gun salute |
| Day 8, Maha Ashtami | Animals are sacrificed in temples across the country |
| Day 9, Maha Navami | Armed forces hold ritual sacrifices, and drivers and artisans make offerings to vehicles and tools. Taleju Temple opens to the public |
| Day 10, Vijaya Dashami | Elders place tika (rice, yogurt and vermilion) and jamara on younger relatives as a blessing |
| Day 15, Kojagrat Purnima | The full moon. Lakshmi is worshipped and people stay up through the night |
You may also see kites on rooftops and bamboo swings in the weeks around the festival.
Where in the valley can visitors see Dashain?
Kathmandu Durbar Square is the main public focus for visitors, particularly on the ninth day. The Kathmandu Post reports that Taleju Bhawani Temple, inside the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar complex, opens to the public only once a year, on Maha Navami. In 2026, worshippers lined up from early morning.
The Post says the night of Maha Ashtami brings the Kalratri worship in the main courtyard, with 54 goats and 54 buffaloes sacrificed. Tiny Living, a local apartment company, says public sacrifices also take place at the Kal Bhairav courtyard at Hanuman Dhoka on days 8 and 9.
PADT says Dashain brings special pujas and offerings at Pashupatinath. Read our guide to Kathmandu Durbar Square before you go, and remember that we don’t know how much of this visitors can access. Taleju’s opening is for worshippers, so don’t assume you can join the line.
What closes during Dashain?
Offices close for several days, and many shops and restaurants close around the main day. The only detailed list we found is a June 2026 blog from Tiny Living, which says its dates were approximate. Please treat this as a rough guide and not a confirmed list.
| Service | What Tiny Living says |
|---|---|
| Government offices, including immigration | Closed from about day 7 to day 11 |
| Banks | Closed days 8 to 10 |
| ATMs | Working, but may run out of cash by day 9 in busy areas |
| Local shops, markets and most restaurants | Closed for at least 2 to 3 days around day 10 |
| Local public transport | Sharply reduced from day 7 |
| Pathao and InDrive | Working, with fewer drivers on days 9 and 10 |
| Thamel tourist restaurants | Many stay open |
| Boudhanath, Pashupatinath’s outer areas, Patan Durbar Square | Open, and calmer than usual |
Hamro Patro’s list for 2026 showed public holidays from Fulpati through to two days after Vijaya Dashami. If you need a visa extension, do it before day 7. Take out enough cash before day 8.
How does Dashain affect transport?
Road and air travel out of Kathmandu get very busy before the main day, and the city’s streets are quieter afterwards. Long-distance transport is the part that needs the most planning.
| Measure, 2026 | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People expected to leave the valley by road | About 1 million | The Kathmandu Post |
| House committee estimate of road travellers | About 900,000 | The Kathmandu Post |
| Domestic air passengers expected | 30,000 to 35,000 | Tribhuvan Airport spokesperson, via the Post |
| Passengers leaving New Bus Park, 3 to 11 October | 207,251 | Bus park operator, via Onlinekhabar |
| Peak day at New Bus Park | 31,235 on 9 October, 12 days before Vijaya Dashami | Onlinekhabar |
Flights ran late into the night in 2026, and rain and landslides damaged highways. A road subsidence on the Prithvi Highway at Galaundi left buses stranded on 9 October. So book flights and buses early, and leave a spare day between any onward trip and your flight home.
Expect the rush to reverse after the festival, as people come back to the city. We didn’t find figures for the return trip.
How should visitors behave?
Remember that this is a family festival, and most of it isn’t meant for visitors. A few things make it easier for everyone.
- Sacrifices: these are part of religious practice here. If you’d prefer not to see them, avoid temple courtyards on days 8 and 9, and especially Hanuman Dhoka. Don’t film or comment on them if you do come across one.
- Tika: if a family invites you, accept gratefully. Don’t ask for it, and don’t turn up uninvited.
- Vehicles: you may see offerings made to vehicles on day 9. Ask your driver before you take a photo.
- Photos: ask before photographing worshippers, and don’t photograph inside temple courtyards unless locals tell you it’s allowed.
- Dress: keep modest clothes for temple visits. See our guide on what to wear in Kathmandu.
Should you avoid Dashain?
You don’t need to avoid it, but you should plan around days 7 to 11. Tiny Living says heritage sites are noticeably calmer during the festival. Our best time to visit Kathmandu guide looks at the season in general.
Tell us your date when you ask about a tour, and we’ll reply with a price and start time. Tihar follows about three weeks later, so see our Tihar guide if you’re staying longer.
