Kathmandu, November 18

Sankhadhar Sakhwa Day, a celebration held in memory of  national luminary Sankhadhar Sakhwa, a pioneer of Nepal Sambat, was marked here today.

The day is celebrated  particularly by the Newar community to commemorate the day when  late prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai declared Sakhwa as a national  luminary in 2056 BS.

Sakhwa, who lived some 1,100 years ago, was a philanthropist and is believed to have cleared the debts of all the residents of Kathmandu valley then. Nepal Sambat is believed to have started after he cleared the debts, marking the beginning of a new era.

As per the calendar, this is Nepal Sambat’s 1,139th year. The New Year of the Nepal Sambat falls on the day of Mha Puja.

This year’s new year celebration had been postponed to mourn the death of civil society activist Padmaratna Tuladhar, who passed away on November 4. Thus, New year of Nepal Sambat was celebrated today on the occasion of Sankhadhar Sakhwa Day.

Nyudaya Vintuna rally was also organised to mark the beginning of New Year today. A rally that started from Basantapur Durbar Square area was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ishwor Pokharel.

Nepal Sambat National Celebration Committee chair Satyabhama Mathema urged the government to recognise Nepal Sambat as an official calendar.