Each ritual has had its own ways for centuries all over the world. The Sakela ritual of Nepal's indigenous people Rai (Kirat) community has a unique way to celebrate twice a year which is a series of rituals in late spring April-May (Bikram Sambat Baishak Purnima) as Sakela Ubahuli and late autumn December (Nepali month of Mangshir) as Sakela Udhouli on the base of the agricultural calendar of full moon.
The first Sakela Ubhauli festival starts on the April full moon marking the beginning of the farming year. It is done so to show deep gratitude to Mother Nature for offering humans food and safety from natural calamities.
The festival that begins from the full moon day of late autumn is observed by worshiping nature and ancestors before harvesting the crops and the end of the harvest season. The harvested crops are offered to the ancestors before consumption to show respect to the ancestors for teaching civilization and it also gives thanks to nature for a good harvest. The Sakela Udhauli is also a time to indicate the time when humans, animals and birds descend to lowland from highland due to cold.
In this ritual, Sakelasilli (a type of dance step) is performed in a hypnotic way. Sakelasilli is conceptualized to seek the underlying myth behind the ritual to perform, using traditional musical instruments, costumes and ornaments.
Kirat people come together with their traditional dress and instruments to perform Sakela dance, which also features imitation of activities of the birds and animals on this occasion. Photo by: Bishal Rai
According to Mundhum, a holy religious book of the Kirat community, time is divided into two parts, Ubhauli and Udhauli on the basis of farming and it also describes the worship of nature or esteem to the ancestors' souls.
The Kirant people are animists and worship nature, and Sakela symbolizes this connection. The dance steps imitate the work of their ancestors, such as felling trees, spreading seeds, and gathering crops.
Sakela Udhauli, the second most important festival of the Kirat community celebrates on the 21st Dec. 2024 at Tudikhel ground, Kathmandu. Photo by Bishal Rai
The Kirat people gather to mark the festival in an organized manner and exchange good wishes on the occasion.
Things like ginger, rice, coin, vermilion powder, bunch of leaves, sickles and chindoto are used in Sakela ritual by the Nakchong (priest) to worship Sakela’s shrine for the betterment of the community.
Sakela is a festival that is most important to the Kirat people all around the world. It honors the human-nature connection, celebrates their culture and history.
People from the Kirat community gather with their traditional attire at the Tudikhel , Kathmandu on 21st Dec. 2024 to celebrate the Sakela Udhauli festival. Photo by Bishal Rai
Apart from the Rai community, the festival is celebrated by the other communities Limbu, Sunuwar and Yakhya ethnic groups. They assemble in public places and perform traditional Sakela dances in ethnic costumes.
Each ritual has had its own ways for centuries all over the world. The Sakela ritual of Nepal's indigenous people Rai (Kirat) community has a unique way to celebrate twice a year which is a series of rituals in late spring April-May (Bikram Sambat Baishak Purnima) as Sakela Ubahuli and late autumn December (Nepali month of Mangshir) as Sakela Udhouli on the base of the agricultural calendar of full moon.
The first Sakela Ubhauli festival starts on the April full moon marking the beginning of the farming year. It is done so to show deep gratitude to Mother Nature for offering humans food and safety from natural calamities.
The festival that begins from the full moon day of late autumn is observed by worshiping nature and ancestors before harvesting the crops and the end of the harvest season. The harvested crops are offered to the ancestors before consumption to show respect to the ancestors for teaching civilization and it also gives thanks to nature for a good harvest. The Sakela Udhauli is also a time to indicate the time when humans, animals and birds descend to lowland from highland due to cold.
In this ritual, Sakelasilli (a type of dance step) is performed in a hypnotic way. Sakelasilli is conceptualized to seek the underlying myth behind the ritual to perform, using traditional musical instruments, costumes and ornaments.
Kirat people come together with their traditional dress and instruments to perform Sakela dance, which also features imitation of activities of the birds and animals on this occasion. Photo by: Bishal Rai
According to Mundhum, a holy religious book of the Kirat community, time is divided into two parts, Ubhauli and Udhauli on the basis of farming and it also describes the worship of nature or esteem to the ancestors' souls.
The Kirant people are animists and worship nature, and Sakela symbolizes this connection. The dance steps imitate the work of their ancestors, such as felling trees, spreading seeds, and gathering crops.
Sakela Udhauli, the second most important festival of the Kirat community celebrates on the 21st Dec. 2024 at Tudikhel ground, Kathmandu. Photo by Bishal Rai
The Kirat people gather to mark the festival in an organized manner and exchange good wishes on the occasion.
Things like ginger, rice, coin, vermilion powder, bunch of leaves, sickles and chindoto are used in Sakela ritual by the Nakchong (priest) to worship Sakela’s shrine for the betterment of the community.
Sakela is a festival that is most important to the Kirat people all around the world. It honors the human-nature connection, celebrates their culture and history.
People from the Kirat community gather with their traditional attire at the Tudikhel , Kathmandu on 21st Dec. 2024 to celebrate the Sakela Udhauli festival. Photo by Bishal Rai
Apart from the Rai community, the festival is celebrated by the other communities Limbu, Sunuwar and Yakhya ethnic groups. They assemble in public places and perform traditional Sakela dances in ethnic costumes.