Photo: Nrik kiran, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nepali New Year, called Navavarsha or Naya Barsha, falls on Baisakh 1, the first day of the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar. In the Gregorian calendar this is April 13 or 14. Baisakh 1, 2083 BS fell on April 14, 2026. The date is set by the Sun entering the zodiac sign Mesha (Aries), which is why Nepal starts its year in April and not on January 1.
This guide covers why Baisakh 1 is the new year, how the BS year number changes, how the day is observed, and the other new years that communities in Nepal keep, such as Nepal Sambat and the three Lhosars.
What is Navavarsha (Nepali New Year)?
Navavarsha is the first day of the Bikram Sambat year. It falls on Baisakh 1, usually April 13 or 14. It is a public holiday in Nepal, so government offices, schools and banks are closed. On this day the official BS year number goes up by one, for example from 2082 to 2083.
Bikram Sambat is the official calendar of Nepal. It runs about 56 to 57 years ahead of the Gregorian (AD) calendar. From January to mid-April the gap is 56 years; from Baisakh 1 to December it is 57 years. For the full background, read our guide on what the Bikram Sambat calendar is.
Why does the Nepali New Year fall in April, not January?
The Nepali New Year falls in April because Bikram Sambat, as used in Nepal, is a sidereal solar calendar. Its year starts when the Sun enters Mesha (Aries). This solar entry is called Mesh Sankranti, and it happens in mid-April every year. Baisakh 1 is fixed to that day, so it cannot move to winter the way the Gregorian January 1 does.
The role of Sankranti (solar transit)
Each Bikram Sambat month begins when the Sun moves into a new zodiac sign. This moment is called Sankranti. Baisakh begins at Mesh Sankranti, when the Sun enters Aries. The Sun does not spend the same time in each sign, so BS months are between 29 and 32 days long. Because the months follow the Sun, the new year always stays in spring.
Why the Gregorian date shifts slightly
The Gregorian date of Baisakh 1 moves between April 13 and April 14 from year to year. Baisakh 1, 2083 fell on April 14, 2026. The sidereal solar year is not a whole number of days, and it does not follow the Gregorian leap-year rule, so the two calendars never line up exactly. The shift is only a day and the new year never leaves April. To find the exact AD date for any year, use the BS to AD date converter.
Our list of the Nepali calendar months in order shows all twelve months from Baisakh to Chaitra with their day counts.
How does the Bikram Sambat year number change?
The Bikram Sambat year number goes up by exactly one on Baisakh 1. Nothing else marks the change. The last day of Chaitra 2082 is followed by Baisakh 1, 2083, and official documents, office letters and school records in Nepal use the new year number from that day.
| Concept | Detail |
|---|---|
| New year day | Baisakh 1 (Mesh Sankranti) |
| Gregorian window | Around April 13-14 |
| Year offset | BS is ~56-57 years ahead of AD |
| What changes | BS year number advances by 1 |
| Basis | Sun entering Aries (solar) |
A quick way to convert a year: add 57 to the AD year for dates from mid-April to December, and add 56 for dates from January to mid-April. For example, July 2026 is in 2083 BS and February 2026 is in 2082 BS.
How is Navavarsha different from other new years in Nepal?
Nepal has several new years because different communities use different calendars. Navavarsha on Baisakh 1 is the official new year recognised by the state. Nepal Sambat and the Lhosars are the new years of specific communities, and they fall at other times of the year.
Nepal Sambat New Year (Mha Puja)
Nepal Sambat is the lunisolar calendar of the Newar community. Its new year begins on Kartik Shukla Pratipada during Tihar, in October or November. This is usually the day after Lakshmi Puja; in 2083 it is two days after, on November 10. The same day is Mha Puja, when people worship their own body and life. Navavarsha is solar and falls in spring. The Nepal Sambat new year follows the moon and falls in autumn.
Lhosar (new years of Himalayan communities)
Three Lhosars are observed in Nepal:
- Tamu Lhosar (Gurung): held on Poush 15 every year, around late December.
- Sonam Lhosar (Tamang): around late January or February, set by the lunar calendar.
- Gyalpo Lhosar (Sherpa and Tibetan): around February or March, set by the lunar calendar.
Each Lhosar has its own customs and is separate from the Bikram Sambat new year.
A quick comparison
| New year | Community | Approx. time | Calendar type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navavarsha (Baisakh 1) | National / official | Mid-April | Solar (Bikram Sambat) |
| Nepal Sambat (Mha Puja) | Newar | Oct-Nov (during Tihar) | Lunar |
| Tamu Lhosar | Gurung | Late December | Fixed on Poush 15 |
| Sonam Lhosar | Tamang | Jan-Feb | Lunar |
| Gyalpo Lhosar | Sherpa / Tibetan | Feb-Mar | Lunar |
For more on the two main calendars, see our comparison of Bikram Sambat versus Nepal Sambat. The Nepal Sambat new year falls during Tihar, which is explained in our guide to the five days of Tihar.
How is Nepali New Year celebrated?
Navavarsha has no single fixed ritual. On the day most people:
- send new year greetings to family and friends, usually "Naya Barsha ko Shubhakamana";
- visit a temple in the morning;
- go on picnics or family outings, since it is a holiday and the weather is warm;
- start new diaries, account books and wall calendars for the new BS year.
In Bhaktapur the new year falls during Bisket Jatra, a chariot festival held around Nyatapola temple and the city squares. Large crowds gather there, so expect busy roads if you plan to visit.
Nepalis living abroad often meet up on the nearest weekend to share Nepali food. If you live by the Gregorian calendar, the Nepali Calendar app can remind you when Baisakh 1 is coming, and you can check the date for any year on the holidays page.
More tools on Katigate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact date of Nepali New Year?
Nepali New Year falls on Baisakh 1, the first day of the Bikram Sambat calendar. In the Gregorian calendar this is April 13 or 14. The exact day changes slightly from year to year because it is set by the Sun entering Aries, not by a fixed Gregorian date.
Why is the Bikram Sambat year number so much higher than the AD year?
Bikram Sambat counts from a different starting year and runs about 56 to 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. An AD year in the 2020s matches a BS year in the 2080s. The gap is 56 years from January to mid-April and 57 years from Baisakh 1 to December.
Is Nepali New Year the same as Nepal Sambat New Year?
No. Navavarsha on Baisakh 1 is the solar Bikram Sambat new year in spring. The Nepal Sambat new year is the Newar new year, observed with Mha Puja during Tihar in autumn. They use different calendars, fall in different seasons and have different rituals.
Do all communities in Nepal celebrate new year on Baisakh 1?
Baisakh 1 is the official national new year and a public holiday across the country. Many communities also keep their own new year: the Gurung, Tamang and Sherpa Lhosars and the Newar Nepal Sambat. Each falls at a different time of year, and most of them are set by the moon.