Nepal Sambat

Nepal Sambat (Nepal Bhasa: नेपाल सम्बत) is a lunar calendar. It was initiated by Sankhadhar Sakhwa to commemorate the pay back of all the debts of Nepalese people.

Description

Nepal Sambat is a lunar calendar. It consists of 354 days per year and a month is added every third year. This calendar came into being and into official use during the reign of king Raghabdev, immediately after the completion of Mandev Sambat 304 (881 AD). Nepal Sambat is a unique calendar in the whole world. All other calendars are named after some rulers or religious leaders. Nepal Sambat is the only calendar which is named after a country. This calendar is said to have been introduced by a common subject Shankhadhar Sakhwa by clearing on his own all debts owing to the state by the then subjects of Nepal. This calendar was in continuous official use in Nepal for 888 years, i.e., from 881 to 1769 AD. After conquering Kathmandu in 1769 AD, Gorkha king Prithvi Narayan Shah discontinued official use of Nepal Sambat. He instead revived and brought Shaka Sambat (Bikram Sambat) into official use since then.






Most Popular Native Calendar of Nepal
Gregarion Calendar, Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat are three main calendars in use in Nepal, among which Nepal Sambat is the only one native to Nepal.


Months of the year
The months of the year are :-

Devanagari Roman script Corresponding Gregorian month
कछला Kachha lā November
िंथंला Thin lā December
पोहेला Pohe lā January
िसल्ला Sil lā February
िचल्ला Chil lā March
चौला Chau lā April
बछला Bachha lā May
तछला Tachha lā June
िदल्ला Dil lā July
गुंला Goon lā August
ञंला Yen lā September
कौला Kau lā October




History
This calendar was the national calendar of Nepal in Malla and early Shah era. It was replaced by Bikram Sambat as the national calendar. However, the calendar is still in use because most of the Nepalese festivals are celebrated according to the calendar.


Invention
According to local legends, a citizen of Kathmandu named Sankhadhar Sakhwa paid off the debts of all the people in Nepal. To commemorate the event, a new era was established.