Forgot your password?
Recognition of Nepal Sambat as a National Calendar
By KTM Reporter in Kathmandu
The coalition government of six political parties including the three major political parties such as Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist), Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist and Leninist (CPN-UML) and Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) recognized the Nepal Sambat as the national calendar. Prime Minister Prachanda called it a people’s victory.
Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala never said no to the recognition of Nepal Sambat as a national calendar; however, he did not do so during his number of terms of the office of a Prime Minister.
Knowingly or unknowingly Nepalis have been following the Nepal Sambat for celebrating religious and social events even when the then despotic rulers of Nepal disbanded the use of this calendar for official purposes. They imported a calendar called Vikram calendar for official purposes.
Recognition of Nepal Sambat as a national calendar is the glory to all proud Nepalis. However, in the 21st century of the globalization era Nepalis would be better off using the global calendar for all official purposes and continuing the use of Nepal Sambat for the purpose of celebrating social and religious events.
The year 1129 in the Nepal Sambat started on October 29, 2008. At one time, all Nepalis celebrated the New Year. After the despotic rulers forcefully imposed a foreign calendar on Nepalis, most of the Nepalis discontinued celebrating a new year following the Nepal Sambat. However, the Newar community has continued the tradition of celebrating the New Year following the Nepal Sambat.
Prime Minister Prachanda held a tea party at his official residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 to mark the Nepal Sambat and to honor Dashain and Tihar festivals. Ministers, political leaders, diplomats and other celebrities except for former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala attended the tea party.
Prime Minister Prachanda also attended a function held at Basantapur in Kathamndu to celebrate the New Year following the Nepal Sambat on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, and also opened a cycle rally at Thankot in Kathmandu held on the occasion of New Year following the Nepal Sambat.
