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31st Jan 2010

Holiday Closing Schedule for US Embassy in Nepal

Posted by : admin

Consular Processing (the process of obtaining a US visa from an American Consulate abroad) can be very time consuming. Also, for those Americans overseas wishing to obtain a new passport, US Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or new visa pages a trip to the US Consulate is likely required. Some Americans and prospective US Immigrants are unaware that most overseas Consular posts close for both American and local holidays out of respect to the American citizens working at the post as well as host-country nationals. In an effort to provide convenience to the readers of this blog below please find the holiday closing schedule for the United States Embassy in Nepal. We provide this information in an effort to forestall people traveling to the post on days when it is not open.

Note: (A) = American Holidays
(N) = Nepali Holidays

Date Holiday (A)/(N) Information
January 1 New Year’s Day (A) First day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, celebrated at home or in gatherings.
January 15 Maghi Parba (N) Begins the holy month of Magh (and the end of the ill-omened month of Poush). It is celebrated by taking ritual baths and praying at shrines. As well as eating yam and ‘chaku’ (a sweet made from boiled and hardened molasses).
January 18 Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (A)

The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was a black clergyman who is ranked among the greatest of black Americans because of his crusade to win full civil rights for his people. (more)
February 12 Maha Shiva Ratri (N) “Great Shiva’s Night,” a festival celebrated with all day fasting and an all night vigil.  Many Hindus gather at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.
February 15 Presidents’ Day (A) This day honors Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  Washington was the first President.  Lincoln was President during the Civil War (1861-65) between the southern and northern states, which ended with the Union intact and slavery abolished.
April 14 Nepali New Year (N) First day of the year in the Nepal Sambat calendar.
May 27 Buddha Jayanti (N) On this day people swarm in Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Patan to pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birth place in Lumbini and chant prayers and burn butter lamps.
May 31 Memorial Day (A) A holiday honoring those who have died, especially in war, often by decorating their graves with flowers. The federal legal holiday began in 1971.
July 5 Independence Day (A) Independence Day is regarded as the birthday of the United States as a free and independent nation. (more)
August 24 Janai Purnima (N) High caste Hindus chant the powerful Gayatri mantra and change their Sacred Thread while a red or yellow protection chord (a rakshya bandhan) is tied around the wrists of other Hindus and Buddhists. Many pilgrims journey to the mountains north of Kathmandu to emulate Lord Shiva by bathing in the sacred lake of Gosaikunda.
September 6 Labor Day (A) Commemorates the contributions of working men and women.  Labor union participation in annual parades remains common, while for many Americans the holiday marks the unofficial end of summer and beginning of the school year.
October 8 Ghatasthapana (N) On the day of Ghatasthapana, all Nepalese worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots).
October 11 Columbus Day (A) Commemorates Christopher Columbus’s first landing in the Americas, October 12, 1492.  In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the federal holiday.
October 14 Phulpati(Dashain) (N) Tenth day of the 15-day national festival of Nepal, celebrated with sacrifices.
October 15 Maha Asttami(Dashain) (N)
October 18 Ekadashi (Dashain) (N) Eleventh day of the 15-day national festival of Nepal.
November 8 Bhaitika (Tihar) (N) Fifth day of Tihar, when sisters give their brothers tika and brothers give gifts in return.
November 11 Veterans’ Day (A) Derived from Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the First World War, November 11, 1918.  Today it recognizes all members of the armed forces, living and dead, who served during times of peace or war.
November 25 Thanksgiving Day (A) Commemorates the survival of early European settlers in the United States and their thanks to Native Americans for assistance in farming and hunting.  Celebrated with a large family meal featuring turkey.
December 24 Christmas Day (A) Holiday celebrated in the United States with family gatherings and giving presents.  For Christians it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
December 31 Friday  New Year’s Day (in lieu of Jan 1, 2011) (A)

This information was taken directly from the US Embassy website, but please be advised that the Embassy’s operating hours are always subject to change. For more information please see the US Embassy in Nepal’s website at this link.

For more information about Consular Processing in Thailand please see: US Embassy Bangkok.


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