Actors dressed up as Ajima mother goddesses take part in New Year's Day parade in Kathmandu.
Part of New Year's Day parade

Nepal Sambat, also spelled as Nepala Sambata, (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐳𑐩𑑂𑐧𑐟‎, Nepali: नेपाल सम्वत्) is the lunisolar calendar used by Nepali of Nepal.[1] The calendar era began on 20 October 879 AD, with 1143 in Nepal Sambat corresponding to the year 2022–2023 AD. Nepal Sambat appeared on coins, stone and copper plate inscriptions, royal decrees, chronicles, Hindu and Buddhist manuscripts, legal documents and correspondence.[2]

Establishment

The name Nepal Sambat was used for the calendar for the first time in Nepal Sambat 148 (1028 AD).[3]

Sankhadhar Sakhwa

The Nepal Sambat epoch corresponds to 879 AD, which commemorates the payment of all the debts of the Nepali people by a merchant named Sankhadhar Sakhwa (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐳𑐒𑑂𑐏𑐢𑐬 𑐳𑐵𑐏𑑂𑐰𑐵𑑅‎) in popular legend.[4][5] According to the legend, an astrologer from Bhaktapur predicted that the sand at the confluence Bhacha Khushi and Bishnumati River in Kathmandu would transform into gold at a certain moment, so the king sent a team of workers to Kathmandu to collect sand from the spot at the special hour. A local merchant named Sankhadhar Sakhwa saw them resting with their baskets of sand at a traveler's shelter at Maru near Durbar Square before returning to Bhaktapur. Believing that the sand to be unusual if the workers were gathering it, he convinced them to give it to him instead. The next day, Sakhwa discovered his sand had turned to gold, while the king of Bhaktapur was left with a pile of ordinary sand which his porters had dug up after the auspicious hour had passed. Sankhadhar used the gold to repay the debts of the Nepali people.[6][7]

Historical usage

Nepal Sambat was the official calendar of Nepal under the Malla dynasty during which it was used in inscriptions, decrees and legal documents. An example of this would be a Newar language inscription (pictured above) which dates itself to Nepal Sambat 798.

An inscription on a stupa in Panauti is dated Nepal Sambat 866 (1746 AD).[8]

Nepal Sambat has also been used outside Nepal Mandala in Nepal and in other countries including India, China and Myanmar. In Gorkha, a stone inscription at the Bhairav Temple at Pokharithok Bazaar contains the date Nepal Sambat 704 (1584 AD). An inscription in the Khas language at a rest house in Salyankot is dated Nepal Sambat 912 (1792 AD).[9] In east Nepal, an inscription on the Bidyadhari Ajima Temple in Bhojpur recording the donation of a door and tympanum is dated Nepal Sambat 1011 (1891 AD). The Bindhyabasini Temple in Bandipur in west Nepal contains an inscription dated Nepal Sambat 950 (1830 AD) recording the donation of a tympanum.[10] The Palanchok Bhagawati Temple situated to the east of Kathmandu contains an inscription recording a land donation dated Nepal Sambat 861 (1741 AD).[11]

Similarly, Nepali merchants based in Tibet (Lhasa Newars) used Nepal Sambat in their official documents, correspondence and inscriptions recording votive offerings.[12] A copper plate recording the donation of a tympanum at the shrine of Chhwaskamini Ajima (Tibetan: Palden Lhamo) in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is dated Nepal Sambat 781 (1661 AD).[13]

Suppression

Nepal Sambat was replaced as the national calendar in Rana period of the Kingdom of Nepal. The victory of the Gorkha Kingdom resulted in the end of the Malla dynasty and the advent of The Shahs used Saka era. However, Nepal Sambat remained in official use for a time even after the coming of the Shahs. For example, the treaty with Tibet signed during the reign of Pratap Singh Shah is dated Nepal Sambat 895 (1775 AD). In 1903, Saka Sambat, in turn, was superseded by Bikram Sambat as the official calendar.[5] However, the government continued to use Saka Sambat on gold and silver coins till 1912 when it was fully replaced by Bikram Sambat.[14][15]

Revival

The campaign to reinstate Nepal Sambat as the national calendar began in the 1920s when Dharmaditya Dharmacharya, a Buddhist and Nepal Bhasa activist based in Kolkata, initiated a campaign to promote it as the national calendar. The movement was continued by language and cultural activists in Nepal with the advent of democracy following the ouster of the autocratic Rana dynasty in 1951.[16] The demand to make Nepal Sambat a national calendar intensified with the establishment of Nepal Bhasa Manka Khala in 1979. It organized rallies and public functions publicizing the importance of the era as a symbol of nationalism. Nepal Sambat has also emerged as a symbol to rally people against the suppression of their culture, language and literature by the politically dominant ruling classes.[17] The Panchayat regime suppressed the movement by arresting and imprisoning the activists.[18][19] In 1987 in Kathmandu, a road running event organized to mark the New Year was broken up by police and the runners thrown in jail.[20]

Reinstated as national calendar

Statue of Sankhadhar Sakhwa at Pulchok, Lalitpur.
Lakhu Phalchā (shelter) at Maru where the sand carriers stopped to rest.

The Nepal Sambat movement achieved its first success on 18 November 1999 when the government declared the founder of the calendar, a trader of Kathmandu named Sankhadhar Sakhwa (संखधर साख्वा), a national hero.[21] On 26 October 2003, the Department of Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp depicting his portrait.[22] A statue of Sankhadhar was erected in Tansen, Palpa in western Nepal on 28 January 2012.[23]

On 25 October 2011, the government decided to bring Nepal Sambat into use as the country's national calendar following prolonged lobbying by cultural and social organizations, most prominently by Nepal Bhasa Manka Khala,[6] and formed a taskforce to make recommendations on its implementation.[24] All major newspapers now print Nepal Sambat along with other dates on their mastheads. New Year's Day celebrations have also spread from the Kathmandu Valley to other towns in Nepal as well as abroad.[25]

Current usage

Nepal Sambat is used majorly among Newar people. The lunar calendar is used for celebration of festival and observation of rituals.[26] Lalitpur Metropolitan City began ascribing Nepal Sambat dates along Bikram Sambat dates since the year 1140, i.e. mid 2020.[27][28]

Lunar Calendar

The Lunar Calendar of Nepal Sambat or the Lunar Nepal Sambat spans from 354 to 378 days in a year.[29][30]

Months of the year

On regular years, there are twelve months. An intercalary month is added every three years to prevent the calendar from drifting with the seasons. Roughly in every two decades a month is reduced which makes eleven months a year.[31][32]

S.N. Nepal script Devanagari script Roman script Corresponding Gregorian month Name of Full Moon
1. 𑐎𑐕𑐮𑐵 / 𑐎𑐬𑐸𑐣𑐵𑐩𑐫𑐮𑐵 कछला / करुनामयला Kachhalā October–November Saki Milā Punhi, Kārtik Purnimā
2. 𑐠𑐶𑑄𑐮𑐵 / 𑐳𑐬𑑂𑐐𑐠𑐶𑑄𑐮𑐵 थिंला / सर्गथिंला Thinlā November–December Yomari Punhi, Dhānya Purnimā
3. 𑐥𑑂𑐰𑑃𑐴𑐾𑐮𑐵 / 𑐥𑑀𑑄𑐴𑐾𑐮𑐵 / 𑐥𑑀𑐴𑐾𑐮𑐵 प्वँहेला / पोंहेला / पोहेला Pwanhelā December–January Milā Punhi, Paush Purnimā
4. 𑐳𑐶𑐮𑐵 / 𑐳𑐶𑐮𑑂𑐮𑐵 / 𑐳𑐶𑐟𑐮𑐵 सिला / सिल्ला / सितला Silā January–February Si Punhi, Māghi Purnimā
5. 𑐔𑐶𑐮𑐵 / 𑐔𑐶𑐮𑑂𑐮𑐵 / 𑐔𑐶𑐬𑐳𑑂𑐰𑐵𑐫𑐾𑐐𑐸𑐮𑐵 चिला / चिल्ला / चिरस्वायेगुला Chilā February–March Holi Punhi, Phāgu Purnimā
6. 𑐔𑑁𑐮𑐵 चौला Chaulā March–April Lhuti Punhi, Bālāju Purnimā
7. 𑐧𑐕𑐮𑐵 / 𑐧𑐶𑐳𑐵𑐏𑐵𑐮𑐵 बछला / बिसाखाला Bachhalā April–May Swānyā Punhi, Baisākh Purnimā
8. 𑐟𑐕𑐮𑐵 / 𑐟𑐠𑐵𑐐𑐟𑐮𑐵 तछला / तथागतला Tachhalā May–June Jyā Punhi, Gaidu Purnimā
9. 𑐡𑐶𑐮𑐵 / 𑐡𑐶𑐮𑑂𑐮𑐵 / 𑐡𑐾𑐮𑐵 दिला / दिल्ला / देला Dilā June–July Dillā Punhi, Guru Purnimā
10. 𑐐𑐸𑑄𑐮𑐵 / 𑐐𑐸𑑃𑐮𑐵 / 𑐐𑐸𑐣𑐶𑐮𑐵 गुंला / गुँला / गुनिला Gunlā July–August Gun Punhi, Janāi Purnimā (Raksha Bandhan)
11. 𑐫𑑄𑐮𑐵 यंला Yanlā August–September Yenyā Punhi, Bhādra Purnimā
12. 𑐎𑑁𑐮𑐵 कौला Kaulā September–October Katin Punhi, Kojāgrat Purnimā
13. 𑐀𑐣𑐮𑐵 अनला Analā The intercalary month Analā Punhi
14. 𑐴𑑂𑐣𑑄𑐮𑐵 न्हंला Nhanlā The reduced month -

New Year

New Year's Day falls on the first day of the waxing moon during the Swanti festival.[33] Traditionally, traders used to close their ledgers and open new account books on the first day of Nepal Sambat. Newars observe New Year's Day by performing Mha Puja (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐴𑑂𑐩𑐥𑐸𑐖𑐵, म्हपुजा), a ritual to purify and empower the soul for the coming New Year besides praying for longevity.[34] During this ceremony, family members sit cross-legged in a row on the floor in front of mandalas (sand paintings) drawn for each person. Offerings are made to the mandala, and each family member is presented auspicious ritual food which includes boiled egg, smoked fish and rice wine during the Sagan ceremony. Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat are also celebrated abroad where Nepali peoples have settled.[35]

Outdoor celebrations of the new year consist of cultural processions, pageants, and rallies. Participants dressed in traditional Newar clothing like tapālan, suruwā and hāku patāsi parade on the streets. Musical bands playing various kinds of drums take part in the processions. Streets and market squares are decorated with arches, gates, and banners bearing new year greetings. The president of Nepal also issues a message of greetings on the occasion of New Year's Day.[36] Public functions are held in which the prime minister and other government leaders participate. Marking a break from tradition, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai gave his speech at the New Year's Day program in 2011 in Nepal Bhasa.[37]

Monthly cycle

The monthly cycle of Lunar Nepal Sambat is based on Hindu units of time. The month ends on the new moon and begins on the first day of the waxing moon. Each month is divided into thwa and gа̄ (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐠𑑂𑐰𑑅 / 𑐐𑐵𑑅, थ्वः / गाः). The period of waxing moon is called thwa and the period of wanning moon is called gaa. Each lunar phase is known as milа̄lyа̄ (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐩𑐶𑐮𑐵𑐮𑑂𑐫𑐵𑑅, मिलाल्याः).[29][32][30] The lunar phases are named as follows

Sl.NoThwaGа̄
1Pāmilā / PāruPāmilā / Pāru
2NimilāNimilā
3SwamilāSwamilā
4IṃmilāIṃmilā
5NyāmilāNyāmilā
6KhumilāKhumilā
7NhemilāNhemilā
8BāmilāBāmilā
9GumilāGumilā
10JhimilāJhimilā
11JhinchamilāJhinchamilā
12JhinnimilāJhinnimilā
13JhinswamilāJhinswamilā
14JhinpyamilāJhinpyamilā
15Pūmilā / Punhi
(full moon)		Khiṃmilā / Āmai
(new moon)

Solar Calendar

Following the official use of Nepal Sambat in Lalitpur Metropolitan City,[27] a solar version of calendar was devised from the year 1141 (C.E. 2020), intending to expand use of Nepal Sambat for official and administrative purposes.[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47]

Months of the year

The Solar Calendar of Nepal Sambat or the Solar Nepal Sambat follows a consistent pattern of division of years.[32][48][49][50]

S.N. Nepal script Devanagari script Roman script Corresponding Gregorian month Number of days
1. 𑐎𑐕𑐮𑐵 कछला Kachhalā October 20 - November 18 30 days
2. 𑐠𑐶𑑄𑐮𑐵 थिंला Thinlā November 19 - December 18 30 days
3. 𑐥𑑂𑐰𑑃𑐴𑐾𑐮𑐵 प्वँहेला Pwanhelā December 19 - January 17 30 days
4. 𑐳𑐶𑐮𑐵 सिला Silā January 18 - February 16 30 days
5. 𑐔𑐶𑐮𑐵 चिला Chilā February 17 - March 17/18 30 days
6. 𑐔𑑁𑐮𑐵 चौला Chaulā March 18/19 - April 16/17 29 days on regular years, 30 days on leap years
7. 𑐧𑐕𑐮𑐵 बछला Bachhalā April 17/18 - May 17 31 days
8. 𑐟𑐕𑐮𑐵 तछला Tachhalā May 18 - June 17 31 days
9. 𑐡𑐶𑐮𑐵 दिला Dilā June 18 - July 18 31 days
10. 𑐐𑐸𑑄𑐮𑐵 गुंला Gunlā July 19 - August 18 31 days
11. 𑐫𑑄𑐮𑐵 यंला Yanlā August 19 - September 18 31 days
12. 𑐎𑑁𑐮𑐵 कौला Kaulā September 19 - October 19 31 days

Leap year

The leap year determination of Solar Nepal Sambat follows a similar pattern of determining leap year in Gregorian Calendar.[48]

Milestones

888 Nepal Sambat (1768 CE) - Prithvi Narayan Shah's Gorkhali forces take Kathmandu.
926 (1806) - Bhandarkhal Massacre establishes Bhimsen Thapa as the prime minister of Nepal.
966 (1846) - Kot massacre establishes Jang Bahadur Rana as the prime minister of Nepal and the Rana dynasty.
1054 (1934) - Great Earthquake strikes Nepal.
1061 (1941) - Four martyrs executed by the Rana regime.
1071 (1951) - Revolution topples Rana regime and establishes democracy.
1080 (1960) - Parliamentary system abolished and Panchayat system established.
1111 (1991) - First parliamentary election held after abolition of Panchayat and reinstatement of democracy.
1121 (2001) - The king, queen and other members of the royal family are killed in Nepali royal massacre.
1128 (2008) - Nepal becomes a republic.[51]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bernardo A. Michael (1 October 2014). Statemaking and Territory in South Asia: Lessons from the Anglo–Gorkha War (1814–1816). Anthem Press. pp. 14–. ISBN 978-1-78308-322-0.
  2. ↑ Gurung, D. B. (2003) Nepal tomorrow: voices & visions. Koselee Prakashan. ISBN 99933-671-0-9, ISBN 978-99933-671-0-9. Page 661.
  3. ↑ Malla, K. P. (1982). "The Relevance of Nepala Samvat". Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2012. Page 1.
  4. ↑ "Sankhadhar Sakhwa may never have existed: Experts". The Himalayan Times. April 12, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Nepal Sambat being celebrated today". My Republica. Oct 19, 2009. Archived from the original on Jan 2, 2010. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  6. 1 2 Pradhananga, Gyanendra Dhar (29 January 2012). "The sands of time". The Kathmandu Post. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  7. ↑ Wright, Daniel (1990). History of Nepal. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 163–165. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  8. ↑ Hridaya, Chittadhar (ed.) (1971). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Jatah. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Parisad. Pages 114.
  9. ↑ Itihas Prakash (14 April 1955). Kathmandu: Itihas Prakash Mandal. Page 37.
  10. ↑ Jhee (February–March 1975). Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Bikas Mandal. Page 9.
  11. ↑ Hridaya, Chittadhar (ed.) (1971). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Jatah. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Parisad. Pages 113.
  12. ↑ Hridaya, Chittadhar (ed.) (1971). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Jatah. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Parisad. Pages 255-256.
  13. ↑ Hridaya, Chittadhar (ed.) (1971). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Jatah. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Parisad. Page 47.
  14. ↑ Pradhan, Bhuvan Lal (1995). "Maniharsha Jyoti in the Fields of Religion, Language and Era". In Memory of Maniharsha Jyoti. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Parisad. Page 460.
  15. ↑ Money, George Wigram Pocklington. (1917) Gurkhali Manual. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-1576-X, 9788120615762. Page 32.
  16. ↑ Xinhua (27 October 2011). "Nepal Sambat 1132 being celebrated in Nepal". China Daily. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  17. ↑ Malla, K. P. (1982). "The Relevance of Nepala Samvat". Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2012. Page 5.
  18. ↑ Sayami, Sneha (28 February – 13 March 2004). "Swayatta Newa Chhalphal Garna Sakinchha" [Newar autonomy can be discussed]. Himal Khabarpatrika (in Nepali). Lalitpur: Himalmedia. p. 35.
  19. ↑ "Nepal Sambat will have no adverse impact". The Rising Nepal. 2008. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  20. ↑ Tuladhar, Kamal (4 January 1991). "Culture clubbed". The Rising Nepal - Friday Supplement.
  21. ↑ Joshi, Amar Prasad (2008). "Shankhadhar Sakhwa: Founder of Nepal Samvat". The Rising Nepal. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  22. ↑ "NP010.03". Universal Postal Union. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  23. ↑ Sandhya Times (29 January 2012). Kathmandu: Artha Pithana Prakashan. Page 1.
  24. ↑ "Govt to bring Nepal Sambat into use". Republica. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  25. ↑ "Nepal Sambat 1131". Newah Organization of America. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  26. ↑ "नखः चखःया संस्कृति". Jheegu Information. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  27. 1 2 Mishra, Aashish. "LMC Brings Nepal Sambat Into Official Use". The Rising Nepal. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  28. ↑ Kapali, Rukshana (November 2021). स्थानीय तहमा नेपालभाषा सम्बन्धी सूचनाको हकद्वारा प्राप्त सूचनाको संगालो (व्यक्तिगत अभिलेखको उतार). pp. 93, 94. ISBN 978-9937-0-9816-8. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  29. 1 2 "Lunar Calendar". Nepal Sambat. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  30. 1 2 "नेपाल सम्वत्". झीगु information.
  31. ↑ Levy, Robert Isaac (1990). "A Catalogue of Annual Events and Their Distribution throughout the Lunar Year". Mesocosm: Hinduism and the Organization of a Traditional Newar City in Nepal. University of California Press. pp. 643–657. ISBN 9780520069114.
  32. 1 2 3 Kapali, Rukshana. "नेपाल संवत् - नेपाल सम्बत" (PDF). Nepal Sambat. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  33. ↑ Wright, Daniel (1990). History of Nepal. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 34. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  34. ↑ "Mha Puja today, Nepal Sambat 1132 being observed". Ekantipur. 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  35. ↑ "Mha Puja 2012 & New Year Nepal Samvat 1133 Celebration". Pasa Puchah Guthi UK. 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  36. ↑ "Prez' Chairman extend Nepal Sambat New Year greetings". The Himalayan Times. Kathmandu. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  37. ↑ "PM Bhattarai addresses programme marking Nepal Sambat 1132 in Nepal Bhasa". Nepalnews.com. 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  38. ↑ "Towards an easy-to-use Nepal Sambat Calendar". Subhash Ram Prajapati. 18 July 2020.
  39. ↑ "Initiation of Solar Nepal Sambat". Hyoojala. Archived from the original on 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  40. ↑ "Overalls of Nepal Sambat". Hyoojala. Archived from the original on 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  41. ↑ "Solar Nepal Sambat". नेपाल सम्वत्.
  42. ↑ "Nepal Sambat Gets Solar Calendar For The First Time". The Rising Nepal.
  43. ↑ "Nepal Sambat Gets Solar Calendar For The First Time". Hamro Jamana.
  44. ↑ "नेपाल सम्वत् पहिलो पटक सौर्य पात्रो प्राप्त गर्दछ". Jalapa Khabar.
  45. ↑ "नेपाल सम्वत् प्रति प्रतिबद्धता वक्तव्य". Nepal Sambat. Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  46. ↑ "फोटोग्राफी संस्थाले नेपाल सम्वत् प्रचलनमा ल्याउने प्रतिबद्धता". Old Photos of Nepa Valley. Archived from the original on 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  47. ↑ "Nepal Sambat Calendar Completes One Year". The Rising Nepal. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  48. 1 2 "SNS Calendar". Nepal Sambat. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  49. ↑ "Nepal Sambat 1142 Calendar (English)" (PDF). Nepal Sambat. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  50. ↑ "Nepal Sambat 1142 Calendar" (PDF). Nepal Sambat. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  51. ↑ "Nepal profile". BBC. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
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