July 28, 2025

Pahan Charhe is one of the Kathmandu Valley’s most intimate and spiritual festivals, celebrated primarily by the Newar community in the core neighborhoods of Kantipur (old Kathmandu). Spanning three days, it honors ancestral spirits, household deities, and the communal fabric of the city. The name “Pahan Charhe” roughly translates to “welcoming beloved guests,” reflecting its deep focus on hospitality to both the living and the dead.

The festival usually coincides with Ghode Jatra, but while Ghode Jatra takes over Tundikhel with military spectacle, Pahan Charhe fills the surrounding neighborhoods with warmth, music, and ritual. Families prepare elaborate offerings, known as pwe, for deceased relatives. Food, flowers, alcohol, and betel leaves are arranged on trays and displayed in courtyards, inviting ancestors to symbolically return and be honored.

Each neighborhood also brings out its local deities in palanquins (khat) to visit Tundikhel, where they symbolically greet one another—turning the open parade ground into a spiritual gathering of gods and spirits. The atmosphere is electric, with musical ensembles, traditional drums, and masked dancers accompanying each deity. This ritual gathering of gods is known as Dyah Lwonegu, and it affirms the continued spiritual connection between the city’s sacred landscape and its divine protectors.

Another key feature of Pahan Charhe is the community feast held in each locality. Friends and extended families gather to eat, drink, and celebrate the enduring relationships that hold the community together. These events are not just about food—they are about reaffirming solidarity, gratitude, and ancestral continuity.

Pahan Charhe is a powerful reminder that Kathmandu’s spiritual life is rooted not only in grand temples and festivals, but also in the humble rituals of neighborhood life. It reveals a deeply human dimension of faith—one that embraces grief, memory, and togetherness with grace and joy.

  • Time of Year: March or April (often overlaps with Ghode Jatra)
  • Location: Core neighborhoods of Kathmandu (Maru, Ason, Nardevi, and surrounding areas)
  • Duration: 3 days
  • What to Expect: Ancestral offerings, deity processions to Tundikhel, palanquins, courtyard feasts, traditional music
  • Interesting Facts:
    • Focuses on hospitality to ancestral spirits through symbolic food offerings
    • Each neighborhood brings its deity out to greet others in a ritual called Dyah Lwonegu
    • Represents one of the most community-driven and emotionally resonant festivals in the valley