It is said that this calendar started when the Kirat king Yalambar defeated the Gopal dynasty in the Kathmandu Valley.
This new year day is also celebrated as Maghe Sankranti in Nepal when people eat sweet potato and various kinds of yams and sel roti.
On 15 November 2009, Subash Chandra Nembang, Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly (CA) stressed the need for the Government of Nepal to recognize Kirant Yele Sambat and ensure that it would be included in the constitution as annex.
On 15 January 2010, the Government of Nepal stated that it would formally recognise Yele Sambat.
According to Gopal Vamsawali, 32 Kirat kings ruled the Kathmandu valley for 1963 years and 8 months.