Source::RSS
The second biggest festival of the Kirant community, known as nature worshipers, 'Sakela Udhauli' has started from today. In the Kirant community, it is customary to celebrate Udhauli from Mangsire Purnima for 15 days and Sakela Ubhauli for a month from Vaishakhe Purnima.
It is customary to worship nature with the wish that there will be a good harvest and no famine during Sakela festival, which is celebrated twice a year. There is a practice of worshipping nature by using materials such as chicken cock, chokho jaand, liquor, ginger, yellow rice.
On the occasion of Sakela Udhauli, it is customary to dance Sakela Sili in the historical and tourist places of the district including Jayajung of Tuwachung-Haley Tuwachung Municipality, Rupakot, Majhuwagadhi and Merung of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, Jantedhunga and Chongkha of Jantedhunga Rural Municipality, Kapase Bhanjyang of Khotehang Rural Municipality. In Udhauli and Ubhauli, in every house of Kirant Rais, after worshipping three hearths and worshipping the earth at Sakela Than, Sakela Sili dance is performed in a round circle by plucking Sili to the rhythm of Sakela song and drums and Jhyamta.
In this festival, not only the Kirant community but also the youth of the non-Kirant community participate in the Sakela Sili dance, which is celebrated with joy in the houses of every Kirant Rai by dressing up in traditional Kiranti costumes such as Chhitko gunyu, velvet bodice, yellow Patuki, Daurasuruwal, Dhaka cap. Hattiram Rai, the outgoing president of the Federation of Nepalese Tribal Tribes, informed that Sakela festival was celebrated with the wish that Sumnima and Paruhang would protect the entire creation world by imitating birds and animals.
On the occasion of Sakela Udhauli, which is formally started from Majhuwagadhi in Diktel Bazar, the main commercial centre of the district, greetings are also exchanged between relatives and friends. From children to the elderly, Sakela Sili, which dances together in one wave, entertains the audience as well.
Sakela Udhauli festival is celebrated with great fanfare in Khotang, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Udaipur, Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, Sunsari, Ilam, Panchthar, Jhapa, Morang and other Kirant communities in eastern Nepal. Sakela Udhauli and Ubhauli Kirant Rai, Limbu, Yakkha and Sunuwar communities observe Udhauli 15 and Ubhauli months as the main festivals.
It is customary to celebrate the Ubhauli festival from the full moon of Vaishakhe to Udhauli and the time to bring in the grain i.e. from the full moon of November. Celebrated at the time when the birds descend to the nest and go to the lake, this festival is also considered as a festival where relatives and girlfriends gather and talk about their sorrows and joys.
On the occasion of Sakela Udhauli, the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Home Affairs has also given a public holiday today (Thursday). Udhauli Sakela of the Kirant community was given to the public on the occasion of Yomari Punhi-Jyapu Day (Grain Full Moon).
Secretary of Kirat Rai Yayokkha Khotang, Jeevan Nachiring said, “On the occasion of Udhauli Sakela, which is celebrated for fifteen days, Kiranti ancestors gathered in Majhuwagadi and worshipped nature and start the Udhauli festival and formal programs are also held at various places in the district.”
Yugshas Kirant, President of Kirat Rai Yayokkha Khotang said,”On the occasion of Udhauli and Ubhauli, Sakela Sili is danced not only by Kirant Rai but also by all castes and religious communities. Sakela festival plays a role in discouraging conflict by maintaining racial, religious and cultural harmony and mutual harmony.” He added, “In Sakela festival, especially, worshipping nature and ancestors and exchanging wishes with each other.”_RSS
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