KATHMANDU: President Ramchandra Paudel acknowledged Nepal Sambat as a unique national heritage, noting its historical roots connected at various spheres such as religion, culture and social life.
Nepal Sambat is an indigenous calendar initiated by national luminary Sankhadhar Sakhwa. The calendar was recognized as the National Calendar by the then government in 2065 BS.
At a commemorative programme marking the 25 years of announcement of Sankhadhar Sakhwa as the national luminary, President Paudel noted that the calendar was unique one in the world for it is established in the name of the our country thereby, he argued, making it a common heritage of all Nepalis.
Highlighting the role of Nepal Sambat in preserving the cultural diversity in a multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic country like Nepal, Paudel recalled the exemplary deeds of luminary Sakhwa who used his personal wealth to salvage the poor and improvised communities.
Sakhwa was known for his contribution to freeing the people across the country from debt. Towards this, President Paudel viewed that the very public welfare deeds and social reform efforts was a revolutionary act in itself for the Nepali society of that time.
Similarly, Bagmati Province Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota, Bagmati Province's Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama and provincial ministers attended the programme presided over by Bagmati Province's Minister for Tourism and Culture Bimal Thakuri.
On the occasion, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality were feted for their contributions to local development and social transformation.
---
