Elements of Nepali Calendar

The Nepali calendar is a complex yet systematic timekeeping system based on the Bikram Sambat (BS) era. It is a lunisolar calendar that plays a crucial role in Nepalese society, determining religious festivals, auspicious timings, and official functions. This article explores the various elements of the Nepali calendar, including the Bikram Sambat system, months, weekdays, and the significance of the Panchanga.

Bikram Sambat (BS)

Bikram Sambat (BS) is the official calendar of Nepal. It is believed to have been initiated by King Vikramaditya in 57 BCE and is widely used in Nepal for official and cultural purposes. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is purely solar, the Bikram Sambat follows a lunisolar system, meaning it considers both the positions of the sun and the moon to determine months and dates.

The Nepali calendar is ahead of the Gregorian calendar by approximately 56 years and 8 months. For example, the Gregorian year 2025 corresponds to Bikram Sambat 2081.

Nepali Months and Their Corresponding English Months

The Nepali calendar consists of 12 months, each varying between 29 to 32 days depending on astronomical calculations. Below is a list of Nepali months along with their approximate English equivalents:

Nepali Month	Romanized Name	English Approximate	Days
बैशाख (वैशाख)	Baisakh	Mid-April to Mid-May	30/31
जेठ	Jestha	Mid-May to Mid-June	31/32
असार	Asar	Mid-June to Mid-July	31
साउन	Saun	Mid-July to Mid-August	31
भदौ	Bhadau	Mid-August to Mid-September	31
असोज	Asoj	Mid-September to Mid-October	30
कार्तिक	Kartik	Mid-October to Mid-November	29/30
मंसिर	Mangsir	Mid-November to Mid-December	29/30
पुष	Poush	Mid-December to Mid-January	29
माघ	Magh	Mid-January to Mid-February	29/30
फागुन	Falgun	Mid-February to Mid-March	29/30
चैत्र	Chaitra	Mid-March to Mid-April	30/31

Nepali Weekdays and Their English Equivalents

The Nepali calendar follows a seven-day week system similar to the Gregorian calendar, with each day named after celestial bodies and deities. Below is a comparison:

Nepali Name	Romanized	English Equivalent
आइतबार	Aitabar	Sunday
सोमबार	Sombar	Monday
मंगलबार	Mangalbar	Tuesday
बुधबार	Budhabar	Wednesday
बिहीबार	Bihibar	Thursday
शुक्रबार	Sukrabar	Friday
शनिबार	Shanibar	Saturday

Saturday (Shanibar) is the official weekly holiday in Nepal.

Panchanga: The Nepali Astrological Calendar

The Panchanga is a traditional Hindu astrological calendar that provides detailed information about lunar phases, planetary positions, and auspicious timings. It plays a vital role in setting dates for festivals, marriage ceremonies, religious rituals, and even daily activities. In a sense, every Nepali who is rooted in its culture conducts his or her daily activities in accordance to the Nepalese Vedic/Hindu calendar.

The Panchanga consists of five key elements:

1. Tithi (तिथि) – Lunar day, based on the moon's position relative to the sun.
2. Vara (वार) – Weekday, associated with celestial bodies.
3. Nakshatra (नक्षत्र) – Lunar mansion, indicating the position of the moon in a specific star constellation.
4. Yoga (योग) – An astrological calculation based on the sum of the sun and moon’s positions.
5. Karana (करण) – Half of a tithi, used for finer time divisions.

These elements are essential for determining the best times for religious and social events in Nepalese society.

Significance of the Nepali Calendar

The Nepali calendar governs numerous aspects of life in Nepal, including:

- Festivals: Major festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Teej, and Maghe Sankranti are celebrated based on the lunar and solar positions.
- Government and Business Operations: Official documents, academic years, and tax deadlines follow the Bikram Sambat system.
- Cultural and Religious Practices: Rituals, pujas, and ceremonies are scheduled based on the Panchanga.