The Nepali calendar, also known as the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar, is a traditional lunar calendar used in Nepal. It is approximately 56.7 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly used worldwide and is also known as the Anno Domini (AD) calendar. The Nepali calendar is based on the Bikram Sambat system and begins its year count from the legendary King Bikramaditya.
Here’s a brief explanation of the differences between the Nepali (BS) and Gregorian (AD) calendars:
- Year Count:
- Nepali Calendar (BS): The Nepali calendar counts its years based on the Bikram Sambat system. For example, the year 2077 BS in the Nepali calendar corresponds to the year 2020-2021 AD in the Gregorian calendar.
- Gregorian Calendar (AD): The Gregorian calendar counts its years based on the birth of Jesus Christ. The current year is directly used as the AD year.
- Start of the Year:
- Nepali Calendar (BS): The Nepali calendar usually starts its year on the first day of the month of Baisakh (April-May).
- Gregorian Calendar (AD): The Gregorian calendar starts its year on January 1st.
- Lunar vs. Solar:
- Nepali Calendar (BS): The Nepali calendar is primarily a lunar calendar, meaning it is based on the phases of the moon. However, it is also adjusted to maintain a rough alignment with the solar year.
- Gregorian Calendar (AD): The Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar that is based on the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
- Months:
- Nepali Calendar (BS): The Nepali calendar consists of 12 lunar months, and the length of each month varies based on the lunar phases.
- Gregorian Calendar (AD): The Gregorian calendar consists of 12 months as well, with varying lengths and a fixed number of days.
- Leap Years:
- Nepali Calendar (BS): The Nepali calendar occasionally inserts an extra month (Adhik Maas) to adjust for the difference between lunar and solar years, making it a type of lunisolar calendar.
- Gregorian Calendar (AD): The Gregorian calendar uses a leap year system with an extra day added to February every four years (except for years divisible by 100 but not by 400).
When converting dates between the Nepali (BS) and Gregorian (AD) calendars, it’s important to account for the specific year offset and any leap month adjustments that might have been made in the Nepali calendar. Keep in mind that the exact conversion can sometimes be a bit complex due to the lunar and solar differences between the two calendars.
