Where to celebrate Dashain & Tihar in the UK

Dashain and Tihar are the two most important festivals in the Nepali calendar, and the UK Nepali community goes to great lengths to celebrate them together. Whether you are new to the UK or have been here for years, you will find that the festivals are a wonderful reminder of home - and a chance to connect with the wider Nepali community around you.

What are Dashain and Tihar?

Dashain (also called Vijaya Dashami or Dasain) is Nepal’s longest and most important festival, celebrated over fifteen days in the month of Ashwin (usually September–October). It marks the victory of good over evil and is a time for family gatherings, the giving of tika and jamara (blessings from elders), feasts, and kite-flying. The tenth day, Vijaya Dashami, is the most auspicious.

Tihar (the festival of lights, related to the Hindu Diwali) follows roughly two weeks later and lasts five days. Each day honours a different creature or deity - crows, dogs, cows, the goddess Laxmi, and brothers. The third day, Laxmi Puja, sees homes lit with oil lamps and marigold garlands. Bhai Tika on the fifth day is a special ceremony between brothers and sisters.

How the UK Nepali community celebrates

Across the UK, Nepali community organisations - samaj groups, ex-Gurkha associations, student societies, and cultural clubs - organise events during both festivals. You can expect:

• Cultural programmes with Nepali music, dance, and performances
• Community dinners and melas (fairs) with traditional food
• Tika ceremonies where community elders bless younger members
• Deusi-bhailo singing during Tihar, going door to door
• Religious pujas at Hindu temples and community halls

Major cities with large Nepali populations - London, Aldershot, Folkestone, Portsmouth, Reading, and others - tend to have the most organised events, but smaller gatherings happen across the country.

Finding events near you

The best way to find Dashain and Tihar events in your area is to check the belayat.uk events listings, where community organisations post upcoming events. You can also follow local Nepali community Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups, which are often the fastest way to hear about smaller, informal gatherings.

Connecting with your samaj

Most regions of Nepal have a corresponding samaj (community association) in the UK - Tamang samaj, Rai samaj, Gurung samaj, and many others, as well as district and regional associations. These groups are often the organisers behind the biggest festival events and provide a real sense of belonging. Find Nepali community organisations near you in the belayat.uk directory.

Tips for families far from home

• Video-call home on Dashami and Bhai Tika so elders can give tika over video - it has become a well-accepted tradition for those living abroad.
• Source Nepali ingredients (sesame seeds, marigold flowers, sel roti flour) from South Asian grocery shops or Nepali stores - many UK cities have them.
• Reach out to your local Nepali community group early - tika and blessings from community elders are warmly offered to those without family nearby.
• Children can take part in school “cultural show and tell” sessions - Dashain and Tihar are wonderful stories to share.

The festivals are proof that no matter how far from home you are, the Nepali community in the UK keeps its traditions alive. Celebrate together - subha Dashain ra Tihar!