Festival guide
Bisket Jatra — Bhaktapur's Wild New Year
If you want to see Newari Nepal at its most uncontainable, Bisket Jatra is the festival. Bhaktapur Durbar Square fills with thousands. Two enormous wooden chariots — one carrying the god Bhairava, one the goddess Bhadrakali — are dragged through the brick lanes by ropes pulled in opposite directions. Whichever side wins the tug-of-war wins the year. The festival peaks on Nepali New Year's Day with the raising and felling of a 25-meter wooden pole (lingo).
- Date:
- April 10–15 (varies slightly) (Chaitra 28 — Baisakh 4 (BS calendar))
- Location:
- Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Valley
History and meaning
Bisket Jatra commemorates a Newari legend of a princess whose suitors all died on their wedding night, until a brave prince killed the two snakes that had been emerging from her nostrils. The two chariots represent Bhairava (the prince's protector deity) and Bhadrakali (the princess's). The festival is older than recorded — likely pre-Licchavi (before the 5th century). It is the most important annual festival in Bhaktapur, and the only major Nepali festival whose date is fixed to the solar (not lunar) calendar.
What you'll see
Day 1–4: The two chariots are assembled at Taumadhi Square. Day 4: Tug-of-war between Thane (upper town) and Kone (lower town). The winner gets bragging rights for the year. Day 5 (Nepali New Year's Day): The 25-meter lingo pole, decorated with strips of cloth, is erected at Lyasinkhel and ceremonially felled the following day — its fall direction predicts the year's fortune. Day 6–9: Smaller processions of regional deities. Late nights are loud, drunken, joyous.
Crowd safety etiquette
Bisket Jatra is the most dangerous Nepali festival for tourists. The chariots are pulled by hundreds of locals; the tug-of-war direction reverses unpredictably; the wooden wheels weigh tons. People are crushed and injured most years. Stay on the elevated stone platforms (dabu) at the square's edges. Never stand in front of or behind a chariot. If locals shout 'hat hat!' ('move back!'), move immediately.
Photography permissions
Photography is permitted everywhere — including the chariot pullers and the lingo. Photographing the priests' rituals inside the chariots is asking for trouble. Drones are not allowed. Selfies with priests after the ritual are usually fine if you ask. Never photograph from too close to a chariot's path.
Where to stand
Best viewing: the upper terraces of Taumadhi Square, the steps of Nyatapola Temple (the five-story pagoda), or the rooftop cafés around Bhaktapur Durbar Square (book ahead — they sell out). Cafe Nyatapola and Heritage Hotel rooftops are favorites. Worst place: directly in front of the chariots or in the lingo-felling impact zone.
What to say
Nepali New Year greeting: 'Naya Barshako Subhakamana!' ('Happy New Year!'). To a Bhaktapur local during the festival: 'Bisket Jatra ramro chha?' ('Is Bisket Jatra good?') — the universal opener. If pushed by the crowd: 'mero pachaadi nabasnuhos' ('please don't push behind me').
Phrases for this festival
The Nepali words to carry into the crowd, the temple, and the photo permission moment.
Photo: Unsplash
नयाँ बर्षको शुभकामना!
Happy New Year
Nayā̱ barshako śubhakāmanā!
Photo: Unsplash
यो कुन चाड हो?
What festival is this?
Yo kun chāḍ ho?
मैले कहाँ उभिने?
Where should I stand?
Maile kahā̱ ubhine?
कृपया नधक्केल्नुहोस्
Please don't push
Kripayā nadhakkelnuhos
के यहाँ सुरक्षित छ?
Is it safe here?
Ke yahā̱ surakṣit chha?
के म फोटो खिच्न सक्छु?
May I take a photo?
Ke ma photo khichna sakchhu?
Frequently asked questions
When is Bisket Jatra in 2026?
April 10–15, 2026 (BS 2082 Chaitra 28 — Baisakh 4). The chariot tug-of-war and the raising of the lingo pole are on April 13; the pole is ceremonially felled on April 14 — Baisakh 1, Nepali New Year's Day. Bisket Jatra is solar-fixed, so these dates barely move year to year.
Is Bisket Jatra safe for tourists?
Yes if you're careful, no if you stand in the wrong place. Crowd injuries happen every year — usually from the chariot wheels or the falling lingo pole. Watch from elevated platforms or rooftop cafés. Don't drink heavily; you need your reflexes.
How do I get to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu?
Taxi: NPR 800–1,500 one-way, 45 min in light traffic, 1.5 hr during festival. Local bus from Ratna Park: NPR 30, ~1 hr. Bhaktapur entry fee for foreigners: NPR 1,500 (free for SAARC nationals; payable at the main gates).
Where should I stay for Bisket Jatra?
Stay in Bhaktapur itself — Heritage Hotel, Kantipur Temple House, Nepali Ghar Bhaktapur. Walking everywhere is the only way during the festival; Kathmandu commutes back are unreliable due to crowds. Book 2–3 months ahead.
Can I touch the chariot for good luck?
Many Newars do — it's blessed. As a foreigner, ask a nearby local 'chhunna milchha?' ('is it okay to touch?'). Usually yes after the chariot has stopped. Never touch while it's being pulled.
Related festivals and culture
Indra Jatra — Kathmandu's Eight-Day Mask Dance
Kathmandu's biggest old-city festival — the rain god Indra is worshipped, the Living Goddess Kumari rides a chariot through Durbar Square, and masked dancers fill the lanes for eight nights of pageantry.
Read the guideKrishna Janmashtami — The God's Midnight Birth
The birth of Krishna at midnight in Bhadra, observed with fasting, candle-lit vigils, and music at Patan's Krishna Mandir — the most important Krishna temple in Nepal.
Read the guideVisiting Nepali Temples: Rules, Respect, and Phrases
How to visit Hindu and Buddhist temples in Nepal — shoes, clothing, photography, the clockwise rule, and the Nepali phrases that show respect.
Read the culture guideWhat Does Namaste Really Mean? A Tourist's Guide
Namaste means more than hello in Nepal. Learn the literal meaning, the gesture, when to use it, and the small differences from the Indian version.
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