Nepali New Year (Navavarsha): Why It Falls in April
If you have ever wondered why Nepalis wish each other a happy new year in the middle of April rather than on January 1, the answer lies in the Bikram Sambat calendar. The official new year of Nepal, called Navavarsha or Nava Barsha, begins on the first day of the month of Baisakh.
This is not an arbitrary date. It is tied to the Sun, not the Moon, and to an ancient system of dividing the year by the Sun's movement through the zodiac. In this guide we explain why Baisakh 1 marks the new year, how the year number jumps forward, and why Nepal actually celebrates more than one "new year."
What exactly is Navavarsha (Nepali New Year)?
Navavarsha is the first day of the Bikram Sambat (BS) year, falling on Baisakh 1, which usually lands around April 13 or 14 in the Gregorian calendar. It is a public holiday in Nepal and the moment the official BS year number advances by one, for example from 2081 to 2082.
Bikram Sambat is the official calendar of Nepal and runs roughly 56 to 57 years ahead of the Gregorian (AD) calendar. So when April arrives and the rest of the world is well into a Gregorian year, Nepal turns over to a fresh BS year. If you want the full background on this system, 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 is a solar-based lunisolar calendar, and its year starts when the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Mesha (Aries). This solar entry, called Mesh Sankranti, happens in mid-April every year, which is why Baisakh 1 anchors there rather than to the winter date used by the Gregorian system.
The role of Sankranti (solar transit)
Each Bikram Sambat month begins when the Sun moves into a new zodiac sign, an event called Sankranti. Baisakh begins at Mesh Sankranti, when the Sun enters Aries. Because this transit is governed by the Sun's actual position, the month lengths vary between 29 and 32 days. That solar grounding is what keeps the new year locked to spring.
Why the Gregorian date shifts slightly
The Gregorian date of Baisakh 1 drifts by a day or so each year, landing on April 13 or April 14 in most years. This happens because the solar year is not a whole number of days, so the calendars do not line up perfectly. The shift is small and predictable, never moving the festival out of April.
To see how the whole twelve-month cycle is structured, our breakdown of the Nepali calendar months in order walks through Baisakh through Chaitra with their varying day counts.
How does the Bikram Sambat year number increment?
The Bikram Sambat year number increases by exactly one at the stroke of Baisakh 1. There is no fractional rollover and no separate epoch event. The year that was 2081 BS through the month of Chaitra simply becomes 2082 BS the morning Baisakh begins, and every official document in Nepal updates to the new number.
| 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) |
How is Navavarsha different from other Nepali "new years"?
Nepal is unusually rich in new-year celebrations because different communities and calendars mark different starting points. Navavarsha (Baisakh 1) is the official, state-recognised new year, but Nepal Sambat and the various Lhosars are equally real new years for their communities, falling at completely different times of the year.
Nepal Sambat New Year (Mha Puja)
Nepal Sambat is the indigenous lunar calendar of the Newar community, and its new year begins the day after Lakshmi Puja during Tihar, in the autumn around October or November. The new-year day coincides with Mha Puja, a ritual worship of the self. So while Navavarsha is solar and falls in spring, the Nepal Sambat new year is lunar and falls in autumn.
Lhosar (Tibetan-origin new years)
Lhosar is the new year for several Himalayan communities, and there are three distinct ones: Tamu Lhosar (Gurung, around late December), Sonam Lhosar (Tamang, around late January or February), and Gyalpo Lhosar (Sherpa and Tibetan, around February or March). Each follows its own lunar reckoning and has its own cultural traditions, separate from Bikram Sambat entirely.
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 | Lunar |
| Sonam Lhosar | Tamang | Jan-Feb | Lunar |
| Gyalpo Lhosar | Sherpa / Tibetan | Feb-Mar | Lunar |
For a deeper look at why two of these calendars sit side by side, see our comparison of Bikram Sambat versus Nepal Sambat. And because the Nepal Sambat new year is woven into the lights festival, you may also enjoy our guide to the five days of Tihar.
How is Nepali New Year celebrated?
Navavarsha is celebrated as a relaxed, hopeful public holiday rather than a single dramatic ritual. Families exchange greetings, picnic in the spring weather, and many people visit temples to start the year well. In some regions, notably Bhaktapur, the festival overlaps with the famous Bisket Jatra chariot festival, giving the day a vibrant public character.
For the diaspora, the day is a chance to gather, share Nepali food, and stay connected to the home calendar even while living under the Gregorian one. A patro app makes this easy: you can keep both calendars in one place and never miss Baisakh 1. Explore the Nepali Calendar (Katigate) app to track the BS year, festivals, and daily Panchang together.
Explore more on Nepali Calendar (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 lands on roughly April 13 or 14, with the precise day shifting slightly each year because it is fixed by the Sun entering Aries rather than 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 epoch and runs about 56 to 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. So an AD year in the 2020s corresponds to a BS year in the 2080s. The exact gap is 56 or 57 depending on which part of the year you check.
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 a lunar Newar tradition celebrated with Mha Puja during Tihar in autumn. They use different calendars, fall in different seasons, and have entirely different rituals.
Do all communities in Nepal celebrate new year on Baisakh 1?
Baisakh 1 is the official national new year, so it is observed countrywide. However, many communities also keep their own new years, such as the Gurung, Tamang, and Sherpa Lhosars and the Newar Nepal Sambat, each falling at different times and following lunar reckoning rather than the solar Bikram Sambat.