Kathmandu, Oct 30: The Nepal Sambat 1145 Main Ceremony Committee has called on the Nepali diplomatic missions abroad to promote the uniqueness and importance of the Nepal Sambat calendar at the international level.

The Nepal Sambat New Year begins from Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the Nepali month Kartik according to the lunar calendar every year.

Committee president Rajendra Shrestha said that all the Nepali diplomatic missions have been urged to contribute to the conservation of the indigenousness and significance of the Nepal Sambat calendar by promoting and publicizing it at the national and international level.

The Nepal Sambat calendar was brought into use by the national luminary Sankhadhar Sakhwa in commemoration of freeing the poor from their debt in 937 BS. It is believed that Sakhwa absolved the poor people of their debt to the lenders and landlords.

Committee president Shrestha said that unlike the other calendars used in the country, the Nepal Sambat is the country's indigenous calendar and it should be brought into use and promoted further.

The Committee is organizing the Nepal Sambat 1145 Main Celebration Programme at Basantapur in Kathmandu on this day, amidst cultural pageantry and playing of traditional musical instruments. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the Programme.

The government led by then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had declared Sakhwa as the National Luminary in 2056 BS and the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' gave national recognition to Nepal Sambat calendar in 2065 BS.