13 calendars approved for new year

Kathmandu / March 24: The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, a government entity to approve lunar and solar-based calendars, has granted permission to 13 calendars (“panchangas”) for publication for the new Nepali year 2073 Bikram Sambat (BS).

The publication of new year’s calendar was reportedly halted due to the delay in obtaining permission from the Committee under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

With the permission, Toyanath, Baburam, Naranath, Himal, Athola, Tarakeshower, Surya, Aakash Darshan, Bagalamukhi, Shubha, Baba Gorakhnath, Kirti and Siddi calendars can now start the publication, sales and distribution of the calendars, Chairperson of the Committee Prof Dr Ramchandra Gautam told the Rastriya Samachar Samiti.

“Some people are known to have published the calendar arbitrarily without obtaining any permission from the Committee. Such calendars only offer misleading information. We have brought this thing into the notice of the Ministry,” added Gautam.

Such calendars cite wrong information on various planetary positions, auspicious dates for festivals and rituals, according to the Committee.

“We are not responsible if public consult unauthorised calendars for performing rituals and observing festivals,” added Committee’s Member-Secretary Surya Prasad Dhungel, urging the public to consult the authentic calendars to avoid confusions.

The authorised calendars list public holidays as permitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs whereas auspicious timing for various festivals and rituals is determined in the calendar as per the recommendations of the Committee. RSS