Today (April 14th) is celebrated as the official Nepali New Year.
Today we enter the year 2066 Vikram Samvat (Vikram Era). The
Vikram Samvat Era was established by the legendary Indian Emperor
Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty -
Vikramaditya is THE legendary emperor of India. More stories/legends are associated with him than any other ruler of India. It was during his (and his son Kumargupta's) reign, India stood at the pinnacle of prosperity and opulence. Although he was named after his grandfather Chandragupta, he took the title of Vikramaditya, which became a synonym for a sovereign of tremendous power and wealth. This title was later assumed by scores of other sovereign rulers of India. Chandragupta minted a prodigious number of gold coins. Even today, the largest number of Gupta coins found in various hoards are the ones minted during his rule, a solid testimony to theo prosperity of his reign.
Vikramaditya's reign was perhaps THE most prosperous and progressive reign in the entire history of India. The contemporary Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk, Fa-hein, was struck by the prosperity of the subjects during Gupta rule. He admired the royal palaces and houses for dispensing charity medicine. He speaks highly of the system of government.
Vikramaditya is responsible for the era, popularly known as Vikram Samvat which commence in 58 BC. This era has been used by major Hindu dynasties and still is in use in modern India. Nepal is the only country that uses it as the official calendar. So far. There has been a lot of pressure from the Newari community, and to some extent, other groups, to use another calendar other than the (former) royal one. The Newaris would like their calendar, which begins during the Tihar holy-days in Oct/Nov, to be the official calendar.
Be that as it may, this New Year, the ancient solar new year of the Aryans, marking the sun's entering Aries, coincides with many Jatras (ceremonial outdoor processions, usually of a local deity, cum festival) celebrated by the Newar community. The New Year coincides with Newari Jatras, like Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur, and Thimi Jatra in Thimi. Both of these a sometimes solemn, sometimes very raucous affairs, are celebrated with much rakshi (homebrewed rice liquor) and merriment. A lot of tongue piercing as penance goes on...
Krishna Chandra Waga
Shrestha, got his tongue pierced
for the 12th time on Wendsday during Bisket Jatra celbration
in Thimi, to give continutiy to his old tradition.
Love and pranams,
Billy
(back)
VIKRAMADITYA or CHANDRAGUPTA II (380 to 413 AD)
Vikramaditya is THE legendary emperor of India. More stories/legends are associated with him than any other ruler of India. It was during his (and his son Kumargupta's) reign, India stood at the pinnacle of prosperity and opulence. Although he was named after his grandfather Chandragupta, he took the title of Vikramaditya, which became a synonym for a sovereign of tremendous power and wealth. This title was later assumed by scores of other sovereign rulers of India. Chandragupta minted a prodigious number of gold coins. Even today, the largest number of Gupta coins found in various hoards are the ones minted during his rule, a solid testimony to theo prosperity of his reign.
Vikramaditya's reign was perhaps THE most prosperous and progressive reign in the entire history of India. The contemporary Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk, Fa-hein, was struck by the prosperity of the subjects during Gupta rule. He admired the royal palaces and houses for dispensing charity medicine. He speaks highly of the system of government.
Vikramaditya is responsible for the era, popularly known as Vikram Samvat which commence in 58 BC. This era has been used by major Hindu dynasties and still is in use in modern India. Nepal is the only country that uses it as the official calendar. So far. There has been a lot of pressure from the Newari community, and to some extent, other groups, to use another calendar other than the (former) royal one. The Newaris would like their calendar, which begins during the Tihar holy-days in Oct/Nov, to be the official calendar.
Be that as it may, this New Year, the ancient solar new year of the Aryans, marking the sun's entering Aries, coincides with many Jatras (ceremonial outdoor processions, usually of a local deity, cum festival) celebrated by the Newar community. The New Year coincides with Newari Jatras, like Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur, and Thimi Jatra in Thimi. Both of these a sometimes solemn, sometimes very raucous affairs, are celebrated with much rakshi (homebrewed rice liquor) and merriment. A lot of tongue piercing as penance goes on...
for the 12th time on Wendsday during Bisket Jatra celbration
in Thimi, to give continutiy to his old tradition.
May Lord Pashupati bless us all
with peace and happiness!
Love and pranams,
Billy
(back)