Events & Festivals in Pokhara

A dynamic celebration marking the New Year, transforming Lakeside into a pedestrian-only zone. Expect live music stages, cultural performances, food stalls from local restaurants, handicraft markets, and family-friendly activities. The festival atmosphere is electric, with lights, music, and crowds enjoying the festive start to the year.

A major Hindu festival marking the winter solstice and auspicious start of the sun's northward journey. Families gather for ritual baths in the Phewa Lake and Kali Gandaki rivers, followed by feasts featuring sesame seed sweets, molasses, yams, and ghee. It's a day of purification and祈福 for good health and prosperity.

A festival dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and art. Students place their books, pens, and musical instruments in front of her idol for blessings. Schools and colleges organize special pujas (prayers). Cultural programs featuring music and dance are common. The day is considered highly auspicious for starting new learning.

A prestigious film festival dedicated to mountain, adventure, and environmental themes. Screens documentaries, feature films, and short films from Nepal and around the world. Includes filmmaker Q&A sessions, photography exhibitions, and workshops, attracting adventurers, filmmakers, and environmental enthusiasts.

A recurring evening market showcasing local artisans, designers, and food producers. Stalls sell handmade jewelry, traditional thangka paintings, organic teas, spices, and street food. Features live acoustic music creating a relaxed, social atmosphere perfect for an evening stroll and unique shopping.

The famous Festival of Colors. The eve features bonfires, and the main day sees everyone taking to the streets to play with colored powders and water. A joyful, chaotic, and inclusive celebration where social norms are relaxed. The Lakeside area becomes a giant, colorful playground for locals and tourists alike.

A growing music festival featuring a mix of popular Nepali rock, pop, and folk bands, alongside emerging artists. Held in an outdoor venue, it's a one or two-day event drawing a young, energetic crowd. Food stalls and beverage vendors are present, creating a concert-party atmosphere.

Celebrates the Nepali New Year (Bikram Sambat) with great fervor. The highlight is the erection of a ceremonial lingo (pole) and the chariot procession of Bhairab. Traditional music, dancing, and a palpable sense of community joy fill the streets of Old Pokhara. It's less chaotic than the Kathmandu version but equally significant.

Celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of Lord Buddha. Major celebrations occur at the World Peace Pagoda and other Buddhist stupas around Phewa Lake. Monks chant prayers, devotees make offerings, and the pagoda is decorated with thousands of butter lamps and colorful prayer flags.

A challenging trail running event with various distance categories (often 50km, 25km, 10km) through the scenic trails on the foothills surrounding Pokhara. Attracts both elite international trail runners and local enthusiasts. The courses offer wide-open views of the Annapurna range and Phewa Lake.

A unique musical experience held during the early monsoon. Features jazz ensembles and fusion bands from Nepal and abroad in an intimate indoor setting. The sound of rain provides a natural backdrop, creating a cozy and sophisticated atmosphere for music lovers.

A day dedicated to honoring spiritual and academic teachers (gurus). Students offer respect to their teachers. At ashrams and yoga centers around Pokhara, special ceremonies, meditation sessions, and discourses are held. It's a quiet, reflective festival focused on gratitude and spiritual growth.

A culinary showcase celebrating Pokhara's diverse food scene. Local restaurants and chefs set up stalls offering samples of traditional Newari, Gurung, Thakali, and modern fusion dishes. Cooking demonstrations, live music, and a friendly competition for the best dish make it worth the trip for foodies.

A unique festival where effigies of the demon Ghanta Karna are erected in crossroads and later taken down and burned in the evening, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Children go door-to-door asking for money (like Halloween). Street plays and satirical performances are common.

A women's festival where married women fast for the longevity of their husbands, and unmarried women fast for a good husband. Dressed in beautiful red saris and finery, they sing, dance, and visit temples, particularly the Shiva temple at Phewa Lake. The evening sees lively folk singing and dancing.

Though smaller than in Kathmandu, Pokhara's Newar community celebrates this festival dedicated to Indra, the king of heaven. The kumari (living goddess) procession may not occur, but you can see traditional Lakhe dances, chariot processions of deities, and masked performances in the old market areas.

A major running event with full marathon, half marathon, and shorter fun-run categories. The flat course runs along the picturesque Fewa Lake and surrounding areas, making it popular for both serious runners aiming for personal bests and tourists looking for a unique experience.

The biggest and most important Hindu festival in Nepal, lasting 15 days. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Families reunite, receive tika (rice, yogurt, vermillion) blessings from elders, fly kites, play swing (ping), and feast. The city empties slightly as people travel to ancestral homes, but the festive spirit is everywhere.

A multi-day festival celebrating performing arts with stage plays, street theater, mime, physical theater, and workshops from Nepali and international troupes. Performances are held in theaters, open spaces, and schools, fostering cultural exchange and pushing creative boundaries.

The five-day Festival of Lights. Houses are decorated with oil lamps (diyo) and colorful rangoli. Crows, dogs, and cows are worshipped on specific days. The third day, Laxmi Puja, is the main event, with homes and businesses illuminated to welcome the goddess of wealth. The final day is Bhai Tika, celebrating brother-sister bonds.

A popular social event featuring a wide selection of local and international craft beers, ciders, and spirits. Paired with live rock/blues music and hearty pub food. Attracts a mix of expats, tourists, and young Nepali professionals for a lively, informal evening by the lake.

One of Nepal's premier multi-sport events. The course typically involves a swim in Phewa Lake, a bike ride along the flat valley roads with mountain views, and a run through parts of the city. It draws a competitive field of national and international triathletes.

A major tourist season in Pokhara. Lakeside is festooned with lights, and restaurants offer special Christmas dinners and gala New Year's Eve parties with live music, DJs, and fireworks over Phewa Lake. The atmosphere is festive and international, with travelers from around the world celebrating.

A focused market promoting local artisans from the Pokhara region and surrounding hills. Find high-quality handmade goods like pashminas, lokta paper products, felt items, traditional jewelry, and wood carvings. Ideal for finding unique, ethical souvenirs directly from the makers.

Pokhara's many yoga studios and retreat centers offer special programs around the winter solstice. These include intensive workshops, meditation sessions, detox programs, and silent retreats, taking advantage of the clear winter skies and serene lake environment for reflection and renewal.