Sakela/sakenwa is the main festival of Kirat Rai community, aslo it called worship of land (Bhumi Puja) which is celebrated twice a year distinguished by two names Ubhauli and Udhauli. Sakela Ubhauli is celebrated during Baisakh Purnima (full moon day in the month of Baishak) and Sakela Udhauli is celebrated during the full moon day in the month of Mangshir.
Ubhauli puja is the worshiping of weather and wishing of enough crops. Nakchung (Chief Priest) prays for the better crops and better weather for plant the crops in this Ubhauli. Udhauli means going down: It is believed that from this day the winter season starts. So people, birds and animal migrate from cold regions to warmer regions as well as harvesting the crops at this time . This kind of migration occurs twice in a year. The celebration of migrating downwards during the season of Mangshir (Nov-Dec) is called "Udhauli" and the celebration of migrating upwards during the season of Baisakh (April-May) is called "Ubhauli". This has been going on since the dawn of the mankind when the Kirat people were hunters and gatherers which time is immemorial.
Ubhauli puja is the worshiping of weather and wishing of enough crops. Nakchung (Chief Priest) prays for the better crops and better weather for plant the crops in this Ubhauli. Udhauli means going down: It is believed that from this day the winter season starts. So people, birds and animal migrate from cold regions to warmer regions as well as harvesting the crops at this time . This kind of migration occurs twice in a year. The celebration of migrating downwards during the season of Mangshir (Nov-Dec) is called "Udhauli" and the celebration of migrating upwards during the season of Baisakh (April-May) is called "Ubhauli". This has been going on since the dawn of the mankind when the Kirat people were hunters and gatherers which time is immemorial.
In this time people gather and dance with their own style and with their own attire. In this festive people dance in circle round and main leader called Silli Mangpa and Silli Mangma, which style they do all followers do the same in sense of traditional crops planting starting to end.
The Sakela dance has become very popular in the cities of Nepal particularly among the younger generation. Kirat Rai celebrating this festival widely outside of Nepal as well specially in Sikkim, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Australia and United States. However, the real flavour of the dance can only be seen in the eastern hills of Nepal. This interest in Sakewa has helped to spread the Nepali culture all across the world.
By Sujan
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