Introduction – Why Nepali Festivals Are a Celebration of Food, Family and Faith
Nepal is a land of vibrant cultures, ancient traditions, and festivals that transform everyday life into a celebration of community, faith and – most importantly – food.
With over 140 distinct ethnic tribes and a population where around 81% identify as Hindu, Nepal’s festival calendar is packed with occasions that bring families together, honour deities, and fill kitchens with the aromas of traditional dishes passed down through generations.
For the Nepali diaspora in Australia – the fastest-growing migrant community in the country with a 124% population increase between 2016 and 2021 – these festivals are more than just religious observances. They are a vital connection to home, heritage and identity. And for anyone who loves authentic food, they are a window into one of the world’s most underrated cuisines.
This guide explores Nepal’s most significant festivals, the foods that define them, and how you can experience these celebrations right here in Sydney.
Dashain – Nepal’s Biggest and Most Significant Festival
What is Dashain?
Dashain is Nepal’s longest and most significant Hindu festival, symbolising the victory of good over evil. The festival honours Goddess Durga and her triumph over the demon Mahishasura. Think of it as “a sort of Christmas and fair combined“ – a 15-day celebration of religion, reunion and, above all, good food.
When is Dashain? (2025 & 2026 Dates)
Dashain follows the lunar calendar, so dates change each year:
| Year | Dashain Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | September 25 – October 4 |
| 2026 | October 20–21 |
Dashain Traditions – Tika, Jamara and Family Reunions
During Dashain, “houses are cleaned and decorated, new clothes are bought and kitchens are filled with good food”. Families reunite, and nearly 2 million people return to their home regions in Nepal.
The most eagerly awaited moment is the tika and jamara ceremony. Elders apply a red mixture of rice, yoghurt and vermilion – along with barley shoots (jamara) – to the foreheads of younger family members. This gesture is accompanied by blessings for health and prosperity, and is often a deeply moving moment that brings the whole family together.
Dashain Food – What Nepal Eats During the Festival
Food is at the heart of Dashain. Kitchens across Nepal overflow with traditional dishes that families prepare with love and care.
Khasi Ko Masu – The Star of Dashain Feasts
Khasi ko masu (goat meat curry) is “the star of Dashain feasts”. Families slow-cook goat meat with aromatic spices, creating a rich, flavourful curry that is served with rice. The dish is so central to Dashain that it appears on almost every festive table.
Sel Roti – The Festival Doughnut
Sel roti is a traditional sweet rice doughnut made with rice flour, sugar, and milk, deep-fried to golden perfection. It is a ring-shaped sweet fried dough that is mostly prepared during Dashain and Tihar. The name ‘sel roti’ means ’round bread’ in the Newari language.
Other Dashain Delicacies
Families also prepare:
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Achar – spicy pickles that accompany every meal
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Rakshi – home-brewed local whisky, often shared among family members
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Kheer – sweet rice pudding flavoured with cardamom
Dashain Activities – Kites, Swings and Celebrations
Dashain isn’t just about rituals – it’s a celebration in villages and towns. Children fly colourful kites in the blue autumn sky, symbolising freedom and happiness. Giant bamboo swings (called ping) appear everywhere, where both children and adults gather to play. Local fairs and cultural programs showcase music, dance, and traditional performances.
Tihar – The Festival of Lights
What is Tihar?
Tihar is Nepal’s five-day “festival of lights” . It typically falls in October or November, during the Nepali month of Kartik. While Dashain is all about blessings and extended family, Tihar is all about light and togetherness.
The festival holds profound religious and cultural significance, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It also emphasises the interconnectedness of all life – each day is dedicated to different deities and living beings.
When is Tihar? (2025 & 2026 Dates)
| Year | Tihar Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | October 21–25 |
| 2026 | November 10–11 |
The Five Days of Tihar
Day 1 – Kaag Tihar (Crow Day)
The festival begins by honouring crows, considered messengers of Yamraj, the god of death. People offer food to crows on their rooftops, seeking to avert grief and death in their families.
Day 2 – Kukur Tihar (Dog Day)
Perhaps one of the most distinctive aspects of Tihar is the day dedicated to dogs. Dogs are worshipped with garlands, tika, and special treats – including meat, milk, and eggs. This celebration recognises dogs’ loyalty and their mythological significance.
Day 3 – Laxmi Puja (Goddess of Wealth)
Households and businesses keep their doors open, inviting goddess Laxmi’s blessings for prosperity. Homes are lit with oil lamps and electric garlands, colourful rangolis decorate entrances, and the streets come alive with music and song.
Day 4 – Govardhan Puja (Oxen Worship)
This day honours oxen, recognising their importance in agriculture and daily life.
Day 5 – Bhai Tika (Brother-Sister Bond)
The final day celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters place tika on their brothers’ foreheads and wish them long life, while brothers give gifts in return.
Tihar Food – Sweets, Sel Roti and Traditional Feasts
On Tihar evenings, young people go from house to house singing and dancing deusi and bhailo, in exchange for sweets or small offerings – “a bit like Halloween, but festive and musical”.
Traditional food during Tihar includes:
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Sel roti – the same sweet rice doughnut that graces Dashain tables
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Anrasa and other sweets prepared as offerings to the goddess
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Beaten rice – “Without beaten rice, there is no Tihar”
Other Important Nepali Festivals
Holi – Festival of Colors
2026 Date: March 3
Streets explode with coloured powder and water balloons. Music, dancing, and bhang (a traditional drink) are central to the celebrations. Food pairings include gujiya (sweet dumplings) and thandai (spiced milk).
Indra Jatra – Kathmandu’s Masked Dance Festival
2026 Dates: September 1–9
This festival features the Kumari (Living Goddess) procession and Lakhe (Demon) dances. Food pairing is a Newari feast featuring samay baji, bara, and yomari.
Teej – The Women’s Festival
2026 Date: August 11
Women fast for marital bliss and dance in red saris. Food pairing includes dar (lentil curry) and special sweets post-fast.
Buddha Jayanti – Celebrating Buddha’s Birthday
2026 Date: May 12
Celebrated in Lumbini (Buddha’s birthplace) and at Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu. Food pairing includes vegetarian meals and kheer (rice pudding).
Yomari Punhi – The Newari Dumpling Festival
Date: December 24, 2026 (Poush 2083)
The Newar community crafts Yomari – delicate rice-flour dumplings cradling sweet chaku (molasses) or khuwa (condensed milk) and sesame seeds within their folds.
Newari Festival Food – A Culinary Heritage
The Newari community – the indigenous inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley – has a rich festival food tradition that is central to Nepali culture.
Samay Baji – The Festival Starter
Samay Baji is eaten as a starter in every festival, every religious activity and puja. It is served during major festivals like Indra Jatra, Dashain, and Tihar (Laxmi Puja, Bhai Tika).
Yomari – Sweet Rice Dumplings
Yomari is “unquestionably one of the most popular Newari food items”. It is a steamed fish-shaped dumpling covered in new-harvest rice flour and filled with chaku (molasses) or khuwa (condensed milk) and sesame seeds.
Other Newari Festival Specialties
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Jhilinga – a super crunchy traditional food specially popular during festivals
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Pukālā (fried meat) – boiled and fried variety meats of the water buffalo, enjoyed during wedding and festival feasts
Nepali Festivals in Sydney – Celebrating Culture Down Under
Australia’s Fastest-Growing Migrant Community
The number of people born in Nepal in Australia rose by 124 per cent between 2016 and 2021, making it the fastest-growing migrant community in the country. In the Canterbury Bankstown local government area alone, there were nearly 5,000 Nepal-born residents, compared to fewer than 200 in 2011.
Dashain at Campsie – A Sold-Out Success
In 2024, a new Dashain celebration launched at Campsie in Sydney’s south-west. More than 100 people gathered for kite-making, dancing and traditional sweets at the Canterbury Bankstown Council event. The event quickly sold out, reflecting the enormous demand from the growing Nepali community.
As one organiser described: “This festival has quite a big space in our heart because this is the time when we meet together, forgetting all the sorrow we have during the year”.
Nepal Festival Sydney – A Celebration at Darling Harbour
Nepal Festival Sydney returns to Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour – a day of vibrant culture, delicious food, and lively entertainment – all completely free. A cultural rally has been taken out from Sydney’s busy Town Hall with the participation of thousands.
Other Festivals in Sydney
The Nepali community in Sydney also celebrates:
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Chhath – at Sydney’s Angle Park in Chipping Norton
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Teej – with community members from Sydney and Melbourne gathering to celebrate
Celebrate Nepali Festivals at Mul Chowk Kitchen
Mul Chowk Kitchen – located at 66 Evaline St, Campsie – is more than just a restaurant. It is a family-owned spot that brings the authentic flavours of Nepal to Sydney.
Bringing Nepali Festival Flavours to Campsie
Whether it’s the rich, slow-cooked goat curry of Dashain, the sweet sel roti of Tihar, or the comforting momos that are enjoyed year-round, Mul Chowk Kitchen captures the essence of Nepali festival food. The restaurant offers a 100% halal menu, making it accessible to the entire community.
Catering for Cultural Celebrations
Mul Chowk Kitchen offers catering and function deals for events like weddings and cultural ceremonies for groups of 35 to 200 people. Whether you are planning a Dashain family gathering, a Tihar celebration, or any other cultural event, the restaurant can bring authentic Nepali flavours to your table.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nepali Festivals
What is the biggest festival in Nepal?
Dashain is Nepal’s biggest and most significant festival. It is a 15-day celebration that honours Goddess Durga and brings families together for reunions, blessings, and feasts.
What is the difference between Dashain and Tihar?
Dashain is a 15-day festival centred on family reunions, blessings from elders, and the worship of Goddess Durga. Tihar is a five-day “festival of lights” that honours different living beings each day – crows, dogs, cows, and the bond between brothers and sisters.
What food is eaten during Dashain?
During Dashain, families prepare Khasi ko masu (goat meat curry), sel roti (sweet rice doughnut), achar (spicy pickles), and rakshi (local whisky).
What is sel roti?
Sel roti is a traditional Nepalese ring-shaped sweet fried dough made from rice flour, sugar, and milk. It is mostly prepared during Dashain and Tihar.
What is Kukur Tihar?
Kukur Tihar is the second day of the Tihar festival, dedicated to honouring dogs. Dogs are decorated with garlands and tika, and offered special foods including meat, milk, and eggs.
How do Nepali people celebrate festivals in Sydney?
Sydney’s Nepali community celebrates Dashain with events at Campsie, the Nepal Festival at Darling Harbour, and community gatherings for Chhath and Teej.
Does Mul Chowk Kitchen offer catering for festivals?
Yes. Mul Chowk Kitchen offers catering and function deals for weddings and cultural ceremonies for groups of 35 to 200 people
