Ropain Festival

रोपाइँ उत्सव

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Nature & SeasonKathmandu Valley/Nationwide
DatesDates TBA · Usually SummerCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forSeasonal rites, water traditionsOfficially declared National Paddy Day by
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NPR
CategoryNature & SeasonFestival type
The story

Ropain Festival in Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide

Ropain, marking National Paddy Day on the 15th of Ashadh, is Nepal's annual rice-planting festival, celebrated nationwide with communal transplanting of rice seedlings, mud play, and folk singing to mark the start of the monsoon planting season. In the Kathmandu Valley, remaining farmland hosts organized public planting events open to visitors.

National Paddy Day, widely known by its date as Asar 15 or by its formal Nepali name Rastriya Dhanropai Diwas, was officially declared by the Nepal Government on 14 December 2004, falling every year on the 15th of Ashadh, corresponding to around 29 June in the Gregorian calendar.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Officially declared National Paddy Day by the Nepal Government on 14 December 2004, the festival turns agricultural necessity into celebration, with entire communities, including in Kathmandu Valley's remaining farmland, taking to flooded fields together to plant rice, splash mud, and sing folk songs on a single symbolically important day of the farming calendar tied directly to the start of the monsoon and the country's food security, since rice underpins roughly 7 percent of national GDP

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

According to Nepali cultural convention

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the 15th of Ashadh

The sacred route

Living ritual

falling around 29 June

The local code

Living ritual

is considered the most auspicious day to begin the year's rice planting

Tradition 5

Living ritual

coinciding with the height of the monsoon season

Tradition 6

Living ritual

and the day carries specific divided responsibilities

Tradition 7

Living ritual

with men traditionally ploughing

Tradition 8

Living ritual

arranging drainage

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually Summer

Getting around

For Ropain Festival, plan transport around the exact Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Old, expendable clothing suitable for wading into flooded, muddy rice paddies; many participants wear traditional Nepali dress for the parade portion before changing for the fieldwork...

Safety

Keep distance from unsafe water edges and follow local crowd or weather warnings.

Where to stay

For Ropain Festival, stay near the part of Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Public water rituals are often open, but boat, viewing, or activity access may be paid.

Language/currency

NPR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map27.70 N, 85.32 EOpen in Google Maps

Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide, Nationwide, Nepal

Nearest airportKTM — Tribhuvan
TransportFor Ropain Festival, plan transport around the exact Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Ropain Festival, stay near the part of Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearOld, expendable clothing suitable for wading into flooded, muddy rice paddies; many participants wear traditional Nepali dress for the parade portion before changing for the fieldwork itself.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Nepal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Ropain Festival?

Ropain Festival is listed for Multiple months · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Ropain Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide, Nepal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Kathmandu Valley/Nationwide, Nationwide, Nepal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually Summer
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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