KHOTANG: The second largest festival of Kirat community in Nepal, 'sakela udhauli', began officially on Sunday.
The Kirat community of Khotang district celebrates the udhauli festival with fanfare. It is observed for 15 days from today.
On this occasion, the Kirat people perform the cultural dance (sili) called 'sakela'. The dance depicts how the birds act and land is tilled for cultivation.
The festival is a worship of the departed ones and soil. The ancestors are paid tribute and even the soil extended thanks for yielding good harvest during this festival. It is the time of paddy harvest.
The historic places of Kirat community are visited and silis performed in celebration of soil and nature.
The provenance of Kirat people like Tuwachung-Jayajung of Halesi Tuwachung municipality-7, Majhugadhi, Rupakot and Merung of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality, Jantedhunga and Chhongkha of Jantedhunga rural municipality and Kapasebhanjyang of Khotehang rural municipality of Khotang district are visited and puja conducted. These places are also developed as the tourist destinations of late.
On the first day of the festival, a massive sakela sili programme was organized at Majhugadhi which is located near Diktel bazaar, the trade hub in the district.
The festival with cultural dance is observed in various Kirat districts in the eastern belt of Nepal- Khotang, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Udaypur, Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, Sunsari, Ilam, Panchthar, Jhapa and Morang.
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