DigiNepal · festivals
Bisket Jatra and Nepali New Year (बिस्का जात्रा (Nepali), बिस्का: जात्रा (Newar), नयाँ वर्ष). Region: Nepal (Bhaktapur for Bisket; nationwide for the new year). Tradition: Hindu and Newar. Calendar: Bikram Sambat solar (Baisakh 1). Dates: Nepali New Year (1 Baisakh) 2026: Tuesday 14 April 2026 (BS 2083 Baisakh 1; वि.सं. २०८३ १) [official, source NP]; Nepali New Year (1 Baisakh) 2027: Wednesday 14 April 2027 (BS 2084 Baisakh 1; वि.सं. २०८४ १) [official, source NP]; Nepali New Year (1 Baisakh) 2028: Thursday 13 April 2028 (BS 2085 Baisakh 1; वि.सं. २०८५ १) [official, source NP]; Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur (9 days around the new year) 2026: Friday 10 April 2026 to Saturday 18 April 2026 (BS 2082 Chaitra 27; वि.सं. २०८२ २७) [computed]; Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur (9 days around the new year) 2027: Saturday 10 April 2027 to Sunday 18 April 2027 (BS 2083 Chaitra 27; वि.सं. २०८३ २७) [computed]; Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur (9 days around the new year) 2028: Sunday 9 April 2028 to Monday 17 April 2028 (BS 2084 Chaitra 27; वि.सं. २०८४ २७) [computed]. History and significance: Nepali New Year falls on 1 Baisakh, when the Bikram Sambat calendar, about 56 years and 8 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar, starts a new year. In Bhaktapur it coincides with Bisket Jatra, a nine day festival in which the chariots of Bhairav and Bhadrakali are pulled through the city in a tug of war between upper and lower neighbourhoods. A tall wooden pole, the lingo, is raised on new year's eve and pulled down to mark the new year. The festival is linked to a legend of a serpent slain to free a cursed princess. Key rituals and foods: Chariot tug of war, raising and felling the lingo pole, Sindoor Jatra in Thimi; foods include samay baji, yomari and Newari feast dishes. Date basis: official = matches a government gazetted holiday list; computed = calculated from the calendar system (tithi astronomy with skyfield and JPL DE421, Hijri Umm al-Qura, Chinese, Korean and Hebrew calendar libraries, or the fixed rule); expected = Umm al-Qura projection pending moon sighting. Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata (CC BY-SA, CC0) and government holiday lists, summarised in our own words.