Kirat Khambu Rai and Sakewa Sili was presented on the occasion of 63rd Republic Day 26 January 2012in New Delhi

Sakela (also Sakewa or Sakenwa) () is one of the main festivals of the Khambu (Rai people), an ethnic group indigenous to Eastern

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and the

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, and

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. Sakela is celebrated twice a year and is distinguished by two names: '' Ubhauli'' and '' Udhauli''. Sakela ''Ubhauli'' is celebrated during Baisakh Purnima (the full moon day in the month of Baisakh) and Sakela ''Udhauli'' is celebrated during the full moon day in the month of Mangsir.

Significance

Kirats believe in

shamanism Shamanism is a spiritual practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into ...

and are worshippers of nature. The Sakela celebration is a prayer to

mother nature Mother Nature (sometimes known as Mother Earth or the Earth Mother) is a personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it, in the form of a mother or mother goddess. European concept tr ...

for healthy crops and protection from natural calamities. The festival is Started on Baisakh Purnima, Sakela is celebrated for fifteen days in Baisakh (April–May) marking the beginning of the farming year. Similarly, the celebration of Sakela during Mangsir (November–December), which is the harvest season, is the giving of thanks to mother nature for providing a good harvest.

Sakela dance

The main characteristic of this festival is a ritual dance call Sakela dance performed by large groups of Kirats, wearing their traditional attire. People from all ages dance together in a large circle. There are male and female leaders in each circle known as ''Silimangpa'' and ''Silimangma'' respectively. They choreograph the dance moves known as ''sili'' while others follow them. The term "sili" reflects the different aspects of human life and their relationship with nature.

Variations

Among Kirats, Sunuwar and Rai celebrate this festival, whereas the Yakkhas and the Limbus have their own Youchyang and Chasok Tangnam. Despite important local variations, indigenists view these dances as specific as well as common to all Kirat.

Different ways of saying it

There are different nomenclatures of Sakela in different Khambu languages. The Chamling sub-tribe calls it Sakela. Bantawas call it Sakewa or Sakenwa while the Thulungs call it Toshi. Bayung Rai Hang Silli Dance in Kathmandu 2011

Bayung Rai Hang Silli Dance in Kathmandu 2011

Among the various Rai languages Sakela is also called: * or in Bantawa, Dungmali and Mewahang languages * Kulung and Nachhiring * in Thulung * in Bahing * or in Lohorung and Yamphu * in Puma

Gallery

File:Sakela Ubhauli Festival 2019 (48076233107).jpg, Offerings made to Paruhang and Sumnima, the ancestral deity File:Kirat Rai ethnic womens in Sakela Ubhauli festival.jpg, Kirati Rai women in Sakela Ubhauli festival File:Sakela Ubhauli Festival 2019 (48076097346).jpg, Women in traditional Rai wear (2019) File:Sakela Ubhauli Festival 2019 (48076168937).jpg, A Rai man playing traditional drum (Dhol) File:Rai Girl Playing Jhyamta in Sakela Ubhauli festival 2017 Kureong Darjeeling.jpg, Rai Girl Playing Jhyamta in Sakela Ubhauli festival (2017

Kurseong Kurseong (, ) is a town and a municipality in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Kurseong subdivision. Located at an altitude of , Kurseong is from Darjeeling and has a pleasant climate throu ...

)

References

External links

{{commons category
SakelaDance.comSakela Dance
on

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United Kirat Rai Organization of America
Kiranti Kirat festivals May observances Public holidays in Nepal Culture of Nepal Observances set by the Vikram Samvat calendar Culture of Koshi Province