Nepal Sambat is not only of the Newars but a common calendar of all Nepalis

Kathmandu - Minister for Urban Development Krishna Gopal Shrestha garlanded the statue of Shankhadhar Sakhwa at Madhyapur Thimi here on the occasion of the Nepal Sambat New Year 1141 today. Shakhwa is national luminary who instituted the Nepal Sambat calendar, the country's indigenous calendar. On the occasion, Minister Shrestha said the Nepal Sambat is not only of a single community but the indigenous calendar of all the Nepalis.

"Although this calendar has been declared a national calendar by the government, there is a wrong notion that it belonged only to the Newar community as not all the Nepalis have been able to own it. Therefore, it is necessary to make the true national calendar of Nepal," he stressed. He opined that each year the New Year's Day of the Nepal Sambat reminded Shankhadhar Sakhwa, who propounded it, adding that Sakhwa has been respected as the national luminary in commemoration of his service to the people by absolving them of their debt.