A new year of the Nepal Sambat 1136, an indigenous calendar of Nepal, has begun today. People of various communities, especially Newari, participate in a mass rally, Bhintuna Rally, to celebrate the New Year. The Nepal Sambat began after Shankhadhar Sakhwa relieved the people of Nepal off debt during the rule of Lichchhavi King Raghavdev. Recognizing the contribution of Shankhadhar Sakhwa to the country and people, the government led by then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had announced Sakhwa a national luminary on November 18, 1999.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has reiterated that the government is ready to address the genuine demands of all. PM Oli was addressing the Nepal Sambat New Year 1136 program organized by the Nepal Sambat 1136 Nhudayan National Celebration Main Committee at Basantapur on Thursday. He said that the government does not address the demands put forth by a handful of people, which are against the aspirations of the millions of the Nepalese and added that the government does not entertain subjects that harm Nepal, but the government is magnanimous and large-hearted to fulfill the demands of a sizeable population. Stating that the Nepal Sambat calendar started by a Nepali from one’s own territory is a unique calendar, he said this calendar has played an important role in terms of making the social life easier and simple. Relating the history, Nepal has been surviving on own pride and dignity, PM Oli said that the nation never accepted the colonization of and dependence on others. He claimed that Nepal’s prestige is as tall as the Mt Everest is and will remain so. He also stressed on solidarity of all the parties to bail the country out of the problem stemming from the economic embargo and the devastating earthquakes, calling on all the political parties including the Nepali Congress to join the government for that. Earlier, a mammoth cultural rally participated by various religious, cultural and literary organizations within the Kathmandu Valley went through the inner city in Kathmandu and shared the New Year greetings. The rally that set off from Basantapur concluded upon reaching the same place.
