KATHMANDU, Oct 29 -
With
recognition as the official calendar of the country, the Nepal Samwat,
also known as Saka Samwat, has entered into a brand new year 1129 on
Wednesday.The
first day of the Nepal Samwat coincides with the fourth day of Tihar
festival, known and Gobardhan Pooja or Goru Pooja (Oxen worshipping).
People of the Newar community took out rally to mark the beginning of the Nepal Samwat New Year today.
Welcome
gates have been erected at several chowks in three districts of the
capital valley and Kavre district hailing the governments move to
announce Nepal Samwat as Rastriya Samwat.
The Maoist-led government had announced Nepal Samwat as National calendar only on Friday.
Nepal
Samwat was established in the name of the nation after Shankhadhar
Sankhwa, then businessman, released the people of Kathmandu from debt
almost 1129 years ago.
It
is believed that during the reign of then King of Kathmandu, Raghav
Dev, the Nepal Samwat was initiated by Sankhadhar Sankhwa to
commemorate the pay back of all the debts of people living in
Kathmandu, then known as "Ya."
Earlier, various organisations and culture experts had demanded for the announcement of Nepal Samwat as Rastriya Samwat.
Nepal
Samwat, one among few of the native calendars to Nepal, has its own
special relevance for Newar community, the major constituents of the
Kathmandu valley. Moreover, the calendar was widely used by Newars for
cultural and religious purpose inside the Kathmandu because of its
relation with festivals Jatra that are celebrated in the Valley.
After
the unification of Nepal, Saka Samwat took ground and later on, during
the premiership of Chandra SJBR Bikram Samwat were recognized for
official use
This calendar, Nepal Samwat, is being revived, especially in the Kathmandu Valley, over the last three decades.