Discover why Nepal counts 2082 in 2025. A clear guide to the Bikram Sambat (Nepali) calendar—its origins, how it works, and why it still shapes daily life.
While much of the world calls it 2025, Nepal is already living in 2082. It may sound like a sci‑fi plot, yet for people there it’s everyday reality. The reason is a homegrown calendar—Bikram Sambat (also spelled Vikram Samvat)—with its own history and internal logic. Here’s where the gap comes from, how the system works, and why it still holds its ground.
In official documents, schools, courts and even on television, Nepal doesn’t rely on the Gregorian calendar. It uses Bikram Sambat. This isn’t just a nod to tradition—it’s an active timekeeping system. Its New Year arrives not on January 1 but in mid‑April, when spring sets in and the farming season begins.
Each year a dedicated calendar committee releases an updated edition with public holidays, days off and auspicious dates for key life events—weddings, house moves or launching a business. That alone shows how deeply it is woven into daily decisions.
The difference comes down to the starting point. The Gregorian calendar counts years from the birth of Christ, while Nepal’s begins with an event said to have happened 57 years earlier. Legend traces it to a victory by the ancient ruler Vikramaditya over his foes. From that milestone, the count has kept going in Nepal.
The calendars diverge by roughly 56–57 years. From January to April the offset is 56, and when Nepal’s New Year arrives, it becomes 57. That’s why in April 2025 Nepal stepped into the year 2082.
This system blends solar and lunar principles. A year usually has 12 months, but each one starts not on a fixed date—its beginning depends on lunar phases. As a result, festivals and key observances shift slightly from year to year.
From time to time an extra month is added so the calendar doesn’t drift. Think of it as a counterpart to a leap year with February 29—an adjustment that keeps it aligned with natural cycles.
Although the calendar has roots in India, Nepal adopted it in the early 20th century. Under the ruler Chandra Shamsher it became the state standard. Since then, major paperwork, court schedules, school timetables and more have been set by it.
Nepalis lean on their calendar for more than year numbers. It guides the timing of festivals, weddings, religious rites and family ceremonies. In rural areas especially, people still pick “good days” for breaking ground on a house, moving in or starting a venture. The calendar, in effect, doubles as a social compass.
Yes—there is also Nepal Sambat, counted from 879 CE. It is used mainly by certain communities. Bikram Sambat, however, is the state‑recognized system, and it’s the one you see everywhere.
It may look old‑world, but no one plans to scrap it. On the contrary, more digital services in Nepal now include it, letting people view local and international dates side by side. It feels less like a relic and more like everyday infrastructure—a calendar that doubles as a marker of identity.