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Ask when Father's Day falls in Nepal, and the answer won't be a Sunday in June. Nepal marks it on its own lunar calendar, on the new moon of Bhadra, so the date shifts every year in 2026 it lands on Friday, September 11 (Bhadra 26, 2083 BS), nearly three weeks later than 2025's date of August 23.
The name Kushe Aunsi comes from kush, a sacred grass gathered that day, while its more literal name, Buwa ko Mukh Herne Din, translates to "the day to look upon your father's face." It isn't a government holiday, but it's observed widely across Hindu households throughout Nepal.
For those whose fathers have died, the day centres on Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple, about ten kilometres northeast of central Kathmandu on the banks of the Bagmati River. The site is considered Uttargaya, a northern counterpart to Gaya in India, and is believed to carry ancestral rites through seven generations.
Visitors here bathe in the river, and the eldest son typically performs Pinda Daan, offering rice and barley balls as part of the Shraddha ritual, guided by priests along the ghats. Different ethnic communities layer their own versions onto the same day Gurung families hold Bayupuja, and Tamang Buddhists organise a collective Gheva ceremony.
The temple's name and significance trace to a story from the Himavat Khanda, in which Shiva hid in the Gokarna forest disguised as a one-horned golden deer. When the gods pulled him back to the heavens by the horn, it broke into three pieces, one of which fell here the spot said to carry ancestral offerings straight through to the afterlife.
Travelers curious to witness Kushe Aunsi should head to Gokarneshwor early, since ritual activity peaks before midday and the riverbank grows crowded fast. Dress modestly, as this is an active religious and family occasion rather than a festival staged for tourists photography is generally fine at a respectful distance, but taking part in the rituals themselves is reserved for family members.
A local market selling flowers, fruit, and ritual items sets up near the temple in the days beforehand, useful for picking up offerings if you're accompanying a Nepali friend or host family for the day.
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