Nepal Sambat

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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.

Contents 1 Description 1.1 Months of the year 2 History 2.1 Invention 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Description

This is a lunar calendar. It consists of 354 days per year and an added one month 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 an 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 Sakhwal 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 into official use since then. ²

[edit] Months of the year

The months of the year are¹ :-

Devanagari	Roman script	Corresponding Gregorian month
कछला	Kachha lā	November
थिंला	Thin lā	December
पोहेला	Pohe lā	January
सिल्ला	Sil lā	February
चिल्ला	Chil lā	March
चौला	Chau lā	April
बछला	Bachha lā	May
तछला	Tachha lā	June
दिल्ला	Dil lā	July
गुंला	Goon lā	August
ञला	Yen lā	September
कौला	Kau lā	October

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

• 1. Jwajalapa
• 2. Newah

[edit] See also

• Newar
• Goon lā

[edit] External links

• Newah
• Jwajalapa