New Year's Day in Nepal, also known as Naya Barsha, is celebrated not on January 1st but typically in mid-April. This is due to the nation following the Bikram Sambat Nepali calendar, which is approximately 56.7 years ahead of the standard Gregorian calendar. However, January 1st is also recognized as an additional New Year's Day to some extent due to the increasing influence of Western cultures.
On the traditional New Year's Day, Nepalese all around the country celebrate with different cultural rituals and festivities. The day usually begins with people visiting temples offering prayers for a prosperous new year, dancing, singing, playing games, and feasting on traditional Nepalese food. It is a public holiday, so schools and businesses are closed, allowing everyone to partake in the celebrations.
One highlighted event of the day is the Bisket Jatra, a significant and dramatic chariot festival celebrated in Bhaktapur, a city in the Kathmandu Valley. The festival is marked by the erection of a lingo (huge wooden pole) with the belief that it will drive away evil spirits. Moreover, cultural processions, tug of war competitions, and symbolic rituals are carried out with great zest and fervor. Despite the differences in date, the essence of celebrating a fresh start remains the same, making New Year's Day in both Nepal and other parts of the world akin to one another.