New Year 2026 begins

Kathmandu, Jan 1: Today marks the start of the year 2026 in the Gregorian calendar, which is acknowledged in the Christian era. This calendar is named after Father Gregory, who created it based on the year of Jesus Christ's birth. As New Year 2026 arrives, those who observe this calendar are exchanging greetings with each other. 

It is important to note that the Christian year, according to the Gregorian calendar, is entirely organized around the solar month. However, some critics contend that this calendar lacks scientific credibility. Dr. Shastradutta Pant, a researcher of various historical periods, highlights that while the Bikram Samvat, which emerged from the alignment of solar and lunar months, is more scientifically sound, the global impact of the Christian era is undeniable. 

A year comprises 365 days, 6 hours, and 49 minutes, but smaller units like hours, minutes, and seconds are excluded from the calculations as they complicate the process. To tackle this, the Bikram era calendar includes a system of leap months every three years. Dr. Pant explained that although the Gregorian calendar tries to address this with a 'leap year' system, there remains no agreement even among Western countries. 

Recently, there has been an increasing trend in Nepal to celebrate the English New Year with great enthusiasm. In celebration of New Year 2026, various events are being organized to welcome the New Year in areas with a significant foreign presence, such as Thamel in Kathmandu, Boudha, and outside the valley in Pokhara, Sauraha, and other locations.(RSS)