Understanding the Bikram Sambat Calendar 2082
The Bikram Sambat calendar is a Hindu calendar system. It was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and is still used in several Indian states and Nepal. This calendar system is approximately 56 years and 8 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar.
The Bikram calendar system is the official calendar of Nepal. This calendar system was introduced by the Emperor Vikramaditya in the first century BCE. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, this calendar system combines both solar and lunar elements and has a more complex leap year pattern.
The BS calendar consists of 12 months, with each month's length varying between 29 and 32 days, depending on lunar cycles.
How is Nepali New Year 2082 going to be celebrated?
The Nepali New Year 2082 BS is going to be celebrated with various activities like cultural gatherings, traditional rituals, temple visiting, feasts, and so on. Below are some of the key celebrations and activities that happen on 2082 New Year's Eve or on the 2082 New Year's Day itself.
- House Cleaning and Decoration
The first ritual of the Nepali New Year starting day celebrations is house cleaning and decorations. To make a fresh start leaving the bad things behind, people clean their homes thoroughly and decorate them with flowers and traditional motifs. It is done to symbolize the renewal.
The people visit the temples and sites like Swayambhunath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple to offer the prayers and offerings. It is done to seek the blessing for health and prosperity for the upcoming year.
- Feasts and community gatherings
During the New Year's Day, various feasts are prepared and shared among the community members. The common delicacies are like Sel Roti, Yomari, Samay Baji, Kwati, Kasaar, Aloo Tama, and so on.
Community or family members gather in one place to celebrate the festivals. The music and dances automatically become a part of the new year celebrations when Nepalis gather in one place.
On the New Year's Day, a grand parade is organized with traditional music and dances. It is especially organized in the Bhaktapur district. A large number of people, including locals and tourists, gather in one place to witness the grand celebrations.
On New Year's Eve, several groups organize concerts and events to celebrate New Year's Day. You can witness the concerts and events in the major cities across the nation. Various artists perform at these events.
Food and Cuisine During Nepali New Year 2082
Just like other festivals, i.e., Dashain and Tihar, the traditional as well as modern cuisines are also part of the Nepali New Year festival celebrations. The diverse food items are prepared and shared among the family and community members.
Below is the list of some popular Nepali food items that are prepared and consumed on the Nepali New Year celebrations.
- Sel Roti and Other Traditional Breads
Sel roti is the popular festival food that is consumed on almost all occasions and festivals of Nepal, including the New Year Day. It is a ring-shaped sweet bread made from rice flour and looks like a crispy, golden-brown treat.
The main ingredients of Sel Roti are rice flour, sugar, ghee, water, and optional additives like coconut or nuts. After the roti is made, it is served with the tea or milk. The other traditional breads, like Bara and Roti, are also consumed. Bara is a flatbread made from lentil flour served with dal or chutney.
Yomari is a traditional Newari steamed dumpling. The ingredients are rice flour, molasses, jaggery, and sesame seeds. This dish is an important part of the festival celebrations. It is often enjoyed as a dessert.
Samay Bhaji is a traditional Newar dish from Nepal that has become one of the main attractions of Nepalese cuisine. This dish is one of the authentic dishes. It has several items and is served together on a single plate.
The components of the samay baji are Chiura or Baji (beaten rice), Bhatmas (fried black soybeans), Wa or Bara (lentil pancakes), Chatamari (rice pancakes), Chhwela (barbecued and marinated buffalo meat), Palu (finely chopped ginger), Khen (fried boiled egg), Sanyaa (fried fish), Bodi ko achar (pickled boiled beans), Aalu-Wala (spicy potato salad), Saag (greens), and Ayla (Newar wine).
Choila is a traditional Newari dish. It consists of the spiced and grilled buffalo meat often served with beaten rice (chiura), tomato salad, and sometimes roti. It can be made of chicken, duck, lamb, goat, or even vegetarian alternatives like mushrooms or soybeans.
The Kwati is a traditional Nepali soup made from a mix of nine types of sprouted beans. The ingredients used in making Kwati are black gram, green gram, chickpeas, field beans, soybeans, field peas, garden peas, cowpeas, and rice beans.
Kasaar is a Nepali sweet dish often prepared for important social events. Basically, it is a fried rice-flour laddu (sweet ball) typically made with sugar, ghee, and spices.
Aloo tama is a traditional Nepali soup made with potatoes (aloo), fermented bamboo shoots (tama), and black-eyed peas (bodi). The key ingredients are potatoes, tama, black-eyed peas (bodi), spices, tomatoes, oil/ghee, and so on. It is often served with a side dish of steamed rice or beaten rice.
Nepali New Year in Different Parts of Nepal and Abroad
The Nepali new year is observed with the different regional traditions and adapted practices among the Nepali people residing in Nepal as well as in the foreign countries. The core rituals, like visiting temples and family gatherings remain universal, however, the abroad communities often prioritize accessibility and cultural fusion.
For example, in the Kathmandu Valley, the new year is observed with key events like Bisket Jatra In Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath and Swyambhunath temple visits, and street parties in the Thamel area.
The New Year Eve events in Kathmandu are also organized. People stay awake during the night to welcome the new year and enjoy the parties and events.
In Pokhara, both New Year Eve and New Year celebrations are observed with people giving the New Year wishes to each other. The tourists can enjoy the lakeside festivities like fireworks, boat rides on Phewa Lake, and outdoor street festivals along with the add-on activities like bungee jumping, paragliding, and mountain flights.
The Nepali New Year celebration is also great if the tourists choose to spend their time in the Chitwan National Park. They can go for jungle safaris, participate in the cultural programs, and taste the diverse Nepalese cuisines in a serene environment.
In case of the abroad celebrations, the events and gatherings may not be huge as compared to that of Nepal. However, the basic traditions remain the same whether in Nepal or abroad. In the abroad, Nepalese people visit the Hindu temples or community centers for prayers and pujas.
The abroad celebrations are also accompanied by cultural events like traditional dances, music, and food festivals (e.g., Sel roti, Yomari, etc.) especially in cities like London, New York, or Sydney. The Nepali associations organize the gatherings in which traditional meals are shared and gifts are exchanged.
Practical tips for those attending Nepali New Year 2082 event
- Confirm the specific dates and locations for the key events like Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur if you are attending.
- Try to wear comfortable clothes and footwear.
- Respect local cultures and traditions and wear modestly.
- Join the locals at the decorated temples like Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath for the prayers and witness the traditional rituals.
- Attend cultural activities like Bisket Jatra and other events during the New Year Day.
- Taste several traditional Nepali dishes, such as sel roti, yomari, and bara.
- Explore the new year markets and buy some handicrafts, traditional clothes, and souvenirs as a travel memory.
- Plan your travel routes in advance or hire private transport if needed.
- Hire a travel agency if you are planning for the tour to the heritage sites on the New Year starting day.
- Keep your belongings safe, especially when in large crowds like in concerts and other public events.
- Use reusable items like water bottles or utensils while attending outdoor gatherings.
- Support local vendors offering handmade or sustainable products.
Final words
The Nepali New Year 2082 starting day serves as a powerful unifying force in preserving the Nepali cultural heritage and helps in fostering the community bonds. The celebration is rooted in the Bikram Sambat Calendar.
People of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds come together to celebrate this grand festival. The gatherings happen in the religious and spiritual sites, especially in the Pashupatinath area and Swayambhunath area. There are also crowds in the grand processions.
The festivals, like New Year's Day, are a great opportunity to learn more about the rich traditions and cultures of the Nepali festivals. So, pack your bags and book the tour package to enjoy the festival celebrations in major cities like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and the Lalitpur area.
Happy Nepali New Year 2082!
