Nepal does not welcome the new year on 1 January. It begins on Baisakh 1, the first day of the first month of the Bikram Sambat calendar, which falls in mid-April. For 2084 BS that day is Wednesday, 14 April 2027.
The Date, Confirmed
Source: vedicmarga.com panchang for 14 April 2027 (Baishakh 1, 2084 BS, Kathmandu); OfficeHolidays.com, "Nepali New Year", which describes it as a national holiday in Nepal.
Why It Falls on 13 or 14 April
Bikram Sambat is a solar calendar: each year starts when the sun transits into Aries (Mesha Sankranti). That moment lands on 13 or 14 April in the Gregorian calendar, so the new year moves between those two dates from year to year rather than staying fixed.
Source: OfficeHolidays.com, "Nepali New Year" (April 13 or 14; 56 years and 8 months); see also our National Calendar guide.
How Nepal Celebrates
Baisakh 1 is a public holiday. Families gather, people exchange greetings and good wishes, and many take part in rituals meant to bring good fortune in the year ahead. Offices and schools close, and cities such as Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur fill with visitors and local events.
Bisket Jatra. In Bhaktapur, the multi-day Bisket Jatra festival is timed around the new year, with processions and chariots in the old town. The exact festival dates for 2027 depend on the lunar-solar calendar, so check the local schedule closer to the time.
The Twelve Months of the Year
| # | Nepali | Roughly overlaps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | बैशाख (Baisakh) | mid-April to mid-May |
| 2 | जेठ (Jestha) | mid-May to mid-June |
| 3 | असार (Asar) | mid-June to mid-July |
| 4 | श्रावण (Shrawan) | mid-July to mid-August |
| 5 | भदौ (Bhadra) | mid-August to mid-September |
| 6 | असोज (Ashwin) | mid-September to mid-October |
| 7 | कार्तिक (Kartik) | mid-October to mid-November |
| 8 | मंसिर (Mangsir) | mid-November to mid-December |
| 9 | पौष (Poush) | mid-December to mid-January |
| 10 | माघ (Magh) | mid-January to mid-February |
| 11 | फागुन (Falgun) | mid-February to mid-March |
| 12 | चैत (Chaitra) | mid-March to mid-April |
Month lengths vary between 29 and 32 days and are published in the official calendar each year, so exact Gregorian start dates differ by a day or two between years.
✦ Did you know?
- The calendar is named for King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, according to the tradition OfficeHolidays.com records.
- Nepal's new year is a solar new year; Newar communities also keep Nepal Sambat, which begins in autumn around Tihar, and many communities have their own Lhosar new years in winter.
- Bikram Sambat is Nepal's official calendar, and the year number changes on Baisakh 1, not on 1 January.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Nepali New Year 2084?
Baisakh 1, 2084 BS falls on Wednesday, 14 April 2027, according to the Kathmandu panchang.
Is Nepali New Year a public holiday?
Yes. It is observed as a national holiday in Nepal. Check the Government of Nepal's official holiday list for the final schedule.
Why does Nepal's new year fall in April?
Bikram Sambat is a solar calendar whose year starts at Mesha Sankranti, when the sun enters Aries, usually on 13 or 14 April.
What year is it in Nepal now?
From mid-April 2026 until Baisakh 1 (14 April 2027) the Bikram Sambat year is 2083. From 14 April 2027 it becomes 2084.
How many years is Bikram Sambat ahead of the Gregorian calendar?
About 56 years and 8 months. Add 57 to the Gregorian year between mid-April and December, and 56 from January to mid-April.
What is Bisket Jatra?
A multi-day festival in Bhaktapur held around the Nepali New Year, with processions and chariots in the old town. Check local announcements for the exact 2027 programme.
How do you say Happy New Year in Nepali?
नयाँ वर्षको शुभकामना (Naya barsha ko shubhakamana). For 2084 people often write नयाँ वर्ष २०८४ को हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना.
Does every community in Nepal celebrate on Baisakh 1?
Baisakh 1 is the national new year, but several communities keep their own calendars and new years, such as Nepal Sambat among the Newars and the various Lhosar festivals.