Nepal Sambat 1146: Nepal’s Indigenous New Year Being Marked

Today, Nepal marks the celebration of Nepal Sambat 1146, an indigenous calendar marking the New Year for the Newar community. Originating in 880 AD, the Nepal Sambat was established by Shankhadhar Sakhwa to free the people of Nepal from debt during the reign of King Raghavdev of the Lichchhavi dynasty.

Recognizing Sakhwa’s profound impact on the nation, he was declared a national luminary by the government in 1999. In 2008, the Nepal Sambat calendar was officially recognized nationwide as a symbol of Nepal’s rich cultural heritage.

The Nepal Sambat celebrations include a range of traditional programs especially in the Kathmandu Valley where the Newar community is most prominent.