Nepali Months in English: Baisakh to Chaitra With Dates

Need to know when Mangsir starts, or which English month Shrawan falls in? Here are all twelve months of the Nepali (Bikram Sambat) calendar, in order, with their Nepali spelling, their place in the English calendar and the number of days each can have.

All 12 months at a glance

The start and end dates cover the years BS 2070 to 2090 (AD 2013 to 2034). For an exact date, check the Nepali calendar or the date converter.

Why are there different spellings?

Nepali words can be written in English in more than one way. Asar is also written Ashadh, Shrawan is often called Saun, and Poush is sometimes written Push or Paush. They all mean the same month. On forms, use the spelling your office or embassy asks for.

The months, one by one

Baisakh (बैशाख)

The first month. Baisakh 1 is Nepali New Year, a public holiday. Baisakh 11 is Loktantra Diwas (Democracy Day). The weather is hot in the Terai and pleasant in the hills.

Jestha (जेठ)

One of the longest months, often 31 or 32 days. Jestha 15 is Republic Day (Ganatantra Diwas), a public holiday.

Asar (असार)

The monsoon arrives and rice planting begins. Asar 15 is celebrated as National Paddy Day, when people plant rice and eat curd and beaten rice (dahi chiura).

Shrawan (साउन)

The heart of the monsoon. Shrawan 1 is Saune Sankranti. Many people wear green and red bangles during this month, and Janai Purnima often falls in Shrawan or Bhadra.

Bhadra (भदौ)

Rain continues. Teej, the women's festival, often falls in Bhadra, though its exact date follows the lunar calendar.

Asoj (असोज)

Clear skies return. Asoj 3 is Constitution Day. Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival, usually begins in Asoj or Kartik.

Kartik (कार्तिक)

The festival season. Dashain often ends and Tihar (Deepawali) usually falls in Kartik. Many consider it the most beautiful time of year.

Mangsir (मंसिर)

Harvest time and a popular month for weddings. Days are short and cool.

Poush (पुस)

The coldest month. Poush 27 is Prithvi Jayanti (National Unity Day). Some families avoid starting new work in Poush.

Magh (माघ)

Magh 1 is Maghe Sankranti, celebrated with til laddoo, ghee, chaku and sweet potato. Magh 16 is Martyrs' Day.

Falgun (फागुन)

Spring begins. Falgun 7 is Prajatantra Diwas (Democracy Day). Holi and Maha Shivaratri usually fall in Falgun or Chaitra.

Chaitra (चैत)

The last month of the year. The days grow warm again, and the year ends on the last day of Chaitra.

Days of the week in Nepali

Saturday is the weekly holiday in Nepal, so offices and schools are closed on शनिबार. That's why Saturdays are printed in red on Nepali calendars.

Remembering the order

A simple way to remember: the Nepali year starts when the English year is already three and a half months old. So Baisakh is "April-May", and every following month moves one step along: Jestha is "May-June", Asar is "June-July", and so on until Chaitra, which is "March-April".

To learn why the months have different lengths and where the calendar comes from, read Bikram Sambat explained.