Sakela dance performed offering worship to nature

The KIrant community's second grand festival, Sakela Udhali, commenced on Tuesday. The Kirant community of Khotang, also known as 'Majhkirant' celebrate 'Udhauli' from the full moon day in the month of Mangsir for 15 days and 'Sakela Ubhauli' from the full moon day in the month of Baisakh for a month.

The Kirant community of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality-11, Kharmi offered prayers and worship to the nature at their historical place, Rupakotgadhi, on the occasion of Udhauli Sakela.

Vice-Chairperson of Dumkim Kharmi, Dil Kumar Rai shared that greetings were mutually exchanged on the occasion of the festival.

There has been a history that Kiranti ancestor, Kharambu King, had ruled the Rupakotgadhi.

The Kirant community of Kharmi celebrated Ubhauli by offering prayers to the nature at Sakela site in their settlement. But, they mark the Udhauli in a bigger gathering at Rupakotgadhi. During Udhauli, the Kirants worship their ancestors and deities.

Folk music of Sakela was heard echoing in the Kirant settlements with the playing of Dholjhyamta drums and cymbals. The revelers performed traditional dances following the customary rituals in the throbbing drum beats and cymbals.

Sakela Udhauli festival was celebrated with much enthusiasm and gaiety in the eastern hilly districts of Khotang, Bhojpur, Udayapur as well as cities like Dharan, Itahari, Gaighat, Katari, Morang and in the federal capital Kathmandu.

The main celebration consists of a performance by participants standing in a circle in front of the Sakela shrine. It is said that the divine and the human, and the myth and the reality are reflected in the performance.

Sakela is a cultural performance. It represents the history, culture, civilisation, identity and philosophical life of the Kirat indigenous people. It is performed in various steps. These steps are an imitation of the ancestors' tasks.

"The Udhauli and Ubhauli have been developed as a prosperous culture to promote ethnic tolerance, unity and fraternity", said Chairperson of Kirant Rai Yayokhkha Khotang Yugshan Kirant.

He further shared, "The Sakela festival has played role to minimize conflict by keeping ethnic, religious and cultural good will and mutual reconciliation".