The Nepalese Calendar
The Official Nepalese Calendar
The Nepali era is called Bikram Sambat (Sambat= era). It begins in 57 BC, from the reign of Bikram,a
mythical Hindu sovereign. it is a lunar calendar, which does not always have 365 days in the year. The
Nepalese lunar month begins at the start of the dark fortnight. Thus, the first of the Nepalese New Year
falls in mid-April of our calendar year. It is the first day of the month of Baisakh.
For example, the first day of this new year 2076 was April 14, but the first day of 2075 was celebrated on
April 15, 2018
Between April and December, we have to add 57 years to our calendar year to know which year we are in
Nepal. From January to April only 56 years should be added to our calendar year.
New Year
The New Years Day
Farewell, 2076 BS! – Welcome , 2077BS!
There are 4 official calendars:
Our Western calendar, used in trade with the West and especially for passports, visas and airline tickets
The Newar calendar (Nepa Sambat), used by the Newar caste. It is a community of
traders who represents the historic ethnicity of the Kathmandu Valley.
The Nepalese Months
There are also other lesser known calendars specific to the various castes that exist. The Nepalese
therefore celebrate the New Year several times during the same year!
The Nepalese Seasons
Basanta Ritu ( Mid- March to Mid-May) Spring season
Grishma Ritu (Mid-May to Mid- July) pre-monsoon
Barsha Ritu (Mid- July to Mid-September) monsoon
Sharad Ritu (Mid- September to Mid- November) Autumn season
Hemanta Ritu (Mid-November to Mid-January) Winter season
Shishir Ritu (Mid- January to Mid-March) post winter season
The Other Calendars
The Newar Calendar
The Newar month, un like the Nepalese month, begins at the start of the clear fortnight.
The first of Newar falls on the first day of the clear fortnight in the Nepalese month of Kartik (October-
November).
Newar will thus celebrate their new year around the end of October at the beginning of November
it will be the beginning of the year 1141
The Tibetan Calendar
The Tibetan calendar is a lunar calendar that begins with the accession to the throne of a mythical
Tibetan king, in the year 127 Bc. AD
The first of the year is called Losar and falls on the first day after the new moon in February.