When is Ghode Jatra in 2027?
Ghode Jatra falls on Tuesday 6 April 2027. That date comes from the Ministry of Home Affairs holiday list for 2083 BS, as reproduced by the law firm Pradhan and Associates, which gives it as 2083 Chaitra 23. Hamro Patro, CalendarLabs, qppstudio and Office Holidays all give the same day, as of November 2026.
| Source | Date given for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Home Affairs notice, via Pradhan and Associates | 6 April (2083 Chaitra 23), Kathmandu Valley only |
| Hamro Patro | Tuesday 6 April |
| CalendarLabs | Tuesday 6 April, Kathmandu Valley |
| qppstudio and Office Holidays | Tuesday 6 April, Kathmandu Valley |
The date moves each year because it follows the moon. Onlinekhabar says Ghode Jatra falls on Chaitra Krishna Aunsi, the new moon of the Nepali month of Chaitra. In 2026 it was on Wednesday 18 March, according to The Kathmandu Post, Onlinekhabar and Radio Nepal. Wikipedia says it usually lands in mid-March or early April.
What is Ghode Jatra?
Ghode Jatra is a horse festival in the Kathmandu Valley, held each year at Tundikhel, the large open ground in central Kathmandu. Radio Nepal gives its religious name as Aswa Yatra.
The festival has two sides. One is a state event, where the Nepali Army puts on a horse parade for the country’s leaders. The other belongs to the Newar community. Wikipedia says Kathmandu’s Newars mark the day with a feast.
What is the Gurumapa legend?
The best-known story is about a demon called Gurumapa. Onlinekhabar and The Kathmandu Post say he lived in a tree in the south-east of Tundikhel and preyed on children. Locals killed him, but people feared his spirit would come back.
Each year, the horses gallop across Tundikhel to trample and hold down that spirit. The Kathmandu Post says faster runs are seen as giving the city stronger protection. Onlinekhabar adds that at night people leave food at the base of Gurumapa’s tree, so the children stay safe.
Other sources tell it differently. Spotlight Nepal and a 2016 Kathmandu Post report name the demon Tundi. Wikipedia tells a version where children went missing in the inner city, and people camping at Tundikhel ran their horses round the ground to drive the spirits away.
What happens at the Tundikhel horse parade?
The Nepali Army runs the main show at Tundikhel, with the head of state watching. In 2026, The Kathmandu Post and Onlinekhabar reported these parts of the programme:
| Part | What the reports describe |
|---|---|
| Horse parade | Army cavalry galloping across the ground, with riding stunts |
| Motorcycle stunts | Riders performing tricks |
| Physical drills | Displays of army exercises |
| Combat displays | Martial and combat demonstrations |
Spotlight Nepal also says paratroopers drop from planes flying low overhead. We didn’t find that in the 2026 news reports, so it may not happen every year.
The guests are the country’s top officials. In 2026, President Ram Chandra Paudel, Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav and Prime Minister Sushila Karki attended, according to Onlinekhabar. In 2016, The Kathmandu Post reported that the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, army chief and diplomats watched from a pavilion.
Can the public attend Ghode Jatra?
Yes, but most people watch from outside the ground. The Kathmandu Post reported in 2016 that the public was kept outside an iron fence while officials sat in a pavilion. Some climbed trees and the fence to see better. Spotlight Nepal also says large crowds watch from outside Tundikhel and aren’t allowed onto the grounds.
We found no ticket or visitor enclosure for any year. Radio Nepal says large crowds gather to watch, and Nepal Traveller advises arriving early for the Tundikhel events. We found no published start time, so ask locally the day before.
These are our own suggestions for the day:
- Arrive early and expect a crowd several people deep along the fence.
- Follow police and army instructions. With the President attending, expect tight security.
- Don’t climb the fence or trees. It’s tempting, but it’s unsafe and the Post’s 2016 report suggests it isn’t welcome.
- Carry little. Leave large bags at your hotel.
- Be ready to leave slowly. Big crowds take time to clear.
What else happens around the valley?
Ghode Jatra sits inside a wider Newar festival called Pahachare, or Pahan Charhe. Spotlight Nepal describes it as three days of parades, masked dances, horse racing, worship and family feasts. “Pahan” means guest in Nepal Bhasa, and inviting guests home for a feast is a highlight.
| Place | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tundikhel, Kathmandu | Army horse parade. On the second day, Spotlight Nepal says shrines of seven mother goddesses meet here and their carriers swap flaming torches | Spotlight Nepal, The Kathmandu Post |
| Asan, Kathmandu | Shrines of the goddesses Bhadrakali and Kankeshwari are carried through Asan’s narrow streets | Spotlight Nepal |
| Asan and Basantapur | Shrine visits, offerings and local processions | Nepal Traveller |
| Lalitpur (Patan) | A traditional race with a one-eyed horse | The Kathmandu Post, Onlinekhabar |
Spotlight Nepal adds that at Balkumari in Patan, a horse is given alcohol and ridden by a drunk rider in Newar dress while people shout at it. Treat that as one source’s description. Nepal Traveller says many of these rituals are sacred and not designed for tourism, so watch quietly from the side.
If you’d like to see the old trading streets, our page on Asan Bazaar in Kathmandu explains the area.
Is Ghode Jatra a holiday in the Kathmandu Valley?
Yes. Ghode Jatra is a public holiday in the Kathmandu Valley only, according to the government notice for 2083 BS. CalendarLabs, qppstudio and Office Holidays also list it as a Kathmandu Valley regional holiday. The rest of Nepal works as normal.
On 6 April 2027, expect government offices and banks in the valley to close. That’s our reading of the holiday notice. Shops and restaurants in tourist areas may still open, but we can’t say which.
How does Ghode Jatra affect traffic?
We found no traffic notice for Ghode Jatra in any year, so we can’t say which roads close. Tundikhel is in central Kathmandu, and the President attends. It’s our own guess that roads right beside the ground may be blocked or slow during the show.
| Plan | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| Going to Tundikhel | Walk the last part, and allow extra time |
| Old city sightseeing that day | Expect the Asan area to be busy with the Pahachare processions, if they fall that day |
| Sites outside central Kathmandu | Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath are away from Tundikhel. We found no reports of disruption there |
| Airport transfers | Allow extra time if your route passes central Kathmandu. We found no specific notice |
Our Kathmandu half day tour visits Kathmandu Durbar Square in the old city. Tell us your date when you ask, so we can plan the route round the festival.
Is it worth planning a trip around Ghode Jatra?
Ghode Jatra suits you if you’ll be in Kathmandu in early April and want to see a big state display. The view from behind the fence can be limited, so the Newar side of the festival may suit visitors who prefer quieter streets.
Early April 2027 is busy with festivals. CalendarLabs lists Nepali New Year on 14 April 2027, and Bhaktapur’s chariot festival starts a few days before it. See our page on Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur if you’re staying on.
