Kathmandu. Nepal Samvat 1146 is being celebrated today by organizing various programs across the country. This Samvat is celebrated as New Year by the Newar community. Rashtriya Bibhuti Shankhadhar Sakhkhwa started Nepal Samvat in 937 AD 880 by paying off the debts of the poor people. Dr. Triratna Manandhar, the former Vice-Chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University, says that the Nepal Samvat was recognized as a national Samvat until the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah. 

"Nepal Samvat, which started from the reign of King Raghavadeva of the Lichchavikal period, continued as an original Samvat until the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Shaka Samvat was in vogue before the Lichchavikal period. It is the original Samvat because it was named after the country of Nepal", he said. After the establishment of democracy in the year 2007, a campaign was launched for the national recognition of Nepal. Nepal Samvat as a new year is specially celebrated by the Newar community living in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bahrbise, Dolakha Bhimeshwar and other areas.

The then prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai declared Sakhhwa a national monument on New Year's Day 2056, highly appreciating the work of providing an excellent model of social service by paying off the debts of the poor people and managing the original property in Nepal.  In 2065, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced that Nepal Samvat will get national recognition. There is still a tradition in Kathmandu of closing the book account on the day of Kartik Krishna Aunsi and starting a new book account on the day of the new year i.e. Kartik Shukla Pratipada.