Year 2066 B.S to have 11-month calendar
People who don't seem to tire swearing by "New Nepal" will now have a new
Nepali calendar to amuse themselves with in 2066 B.S, which is just couple
of months away.
After turning the page on the 238-year-old institution of monarchy,
heralding a republic and presiding over many more political, cultural and
social changes in the country, the Maoist-led government decided that the
Bikram Sambat (B.S) calendar - also called the Nepali calendar - will be
one month shorter than the regular calendar i.e. will have 11 months only.
This means, the Bikram Sambat calendar, which begins with Baisakh month
and ends with Chaitra, will not have the month of Chaitra in 2066 B.S.
Bikram Sambat calendar, which was established by emperor Vikramaditya some
two thousand years ago and is based on Hindu tradition, is the official
calendar of Nepal.
The government took this decision after consulting with the country's
leading astrologers and religious figures, Ministry of Culture and State
Restructure spokesperson Lok Bahadur Khatri said Monday.
As per the decision Nepal will be adjusting the Bikram Sambat calendar
from March 14, 2010 (Baisakh 1, 2067).
The cabinet meeting had last month taken the decision to alter the Nepali
calendar after approving a report of the taskforce formed by Ministry of
Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on adjusting the Bikram Sambat
calendar.
Calculating the earth's rotation in its axis vis-à-vis the solar movement,
the taskforce had said that the Bikram calendar is behind by 23 days and
recommended deduction of one month for the adjustment.
The Bikram Sambat calendar doesn't have a Leap Year like in Gregorian
Calendar for making such adjustments.
However, to compensate the feeling of loss of one month, the adjustment
will cause the country's greatest festivals including Vijaya Dashami to
fall one month earlier than usual and people will be able to tie in
nuptial chord even in Kartik month, which is otherwise considered
inauspicious for marriage. nepalnews.com ag Feb 03 09
