The first day of the Nepal Samwat coincides with the fourth day of Tihar festival, known and Gobardhan Pooja or Goru Pooja (Oxen worshipping).

People of the Newar community took out rally to mark the beginning of the Nepal Samwat New Year today.

Welcome gates have been erected at several chowks in three districts of the capital valley and Kavre district hailing the governments move to announce Nepal Samwat as Rastriya Samwat.

The Maoist-led government had announced Nepal Samwat as National calendar only on Friday.

Nepal Samwat was established in the name of the nation after Shankhadhar Sankhwa, then businessman, released the people of Kathmandu from debt almost 1129 years ago.

It is believed that during the reign of then King of Kathmandu, Raghav Dev, the Nepal Samwat was initiated by Sankhadhar Sankhwa to commemorate the pay back of all the debts of people living in Kathmandu, then known as "Ya."

Earlier, various organisations and culture experts had demanded for the announcement of Nepal Samwat as Rastriya Samwat.

Nepal Samwat, one among few of the native calendars to Nepal, has its own special relevance for Newar community, the major constituents of the Kathmandu valley. Moreover, the calendar was widely used by Newars for cultural and religious purpose inside the Kathmandu because of its relation with festivals Jatra that are celebrated in the Valley.

After the unification of Nepal, Saka Samwat took ground and later on, during the premiership of Chandra SJBR Bikram Samwat were recognized for official use

This calendar, Nepal Samwat, is being revived, especially in the Kathmandu Valley, over the last three decades.