Kirat festival celebrated to thank nature for providing them with good harvest.
Udhauli
Udhauli celebration by Kirat Sunuwar people
Observed by
Kirat communities
Type
Kirat festival
Observances
Prayers and religious rituals
Date
purnima (Full Moon Day) of Mangshir[1]
Frequency
Annual
Udhauli (उधौली) is a festival of the Kirat communities of Kirati people specially celebrated by Sunuwar, Limbu,Yakkha, Khambu Rai etc. of Nepal, India and other different countries around the world where these indigenous people (Kirati People) resides. It is celebrated every year marking the migration phase downwards towards the low-elevation regions when the winter season arrives. The migration from the low-elevation areas upwards to hilly areas is called Ubhauli (upwards), which is also an annual festival of these communities[2] On the Udhauli festival day, the Kirat people offer thanks to mother nature for providing a good harvest.
Udhauli celebration by Kirat people
Udhauli festival is celebrated by all Kirat people. It is believed that from this day the winter season starts. So people, birds, and animals migrate from cold regions to warmer regions. It's mainly celebrated in the eastern region of Nepal by dancing an exotic dance called Sakewa or commonly known as ''Sakela''. The dance is very popular in Nepal and is performed by dancing harmoniously in a circle with the beat of Dhol/drum, Jhyamta/cymbals etc. Sakela's dance steps were passed down from ancestor that had been copied from the life style of animals and their behaviors.
Kirant Khambu Rai celebrating the festival Sakela
During the dance each tribe of kirat communities perform their own dance steps according to their sub clans. As sakela is a dance for respecting the mother earth, it is believed to please nature as appreciating nature's gift to human. So, in each steps of Sakela the dancer shows how civilization began and how kirati people learned to live in harmony with animals and birds.
The main destinations for the Sakela are Khotang , Bhojpur , Dharan, Dhankuta, Pathari, Kanepokhari, Kerabari etc. This event of the Kirat people has also been stated in the Mundhum (holy book of the Kirat people).[3]
Udhauli (उधौली) is a festival of the Kirat communities of Kirati people specially celebrated by Sunuwar, Limbu,Yakkha, Khambu Rai etc. of Nepal, India...
and different festivals throughout the year. Some common festivals are Udhauli, Ubhauli and New year Yele Sambat (Maghe Sankranti). Sakela is the main...
names Ubhauli and Udhauli. Sakela Ubhauli is celebrated during Baisakh Purnima (full moon day in the month of Baisakh) and Sakela Udhauli is celebrated during...
The migration from hills downwards to areas of lower altitude is called Udhauli (downwards), which is also an annual festival of these communities. Sakela...
November – Chhath Puja 15 November – Guru Nanak Jayanti 15 December – Udhauli Parva 25 December – Christmas Day 30 December – Tamu Lhosar 26 February...
Important events during this month include: Mangshir purnima (Full Moon), Udhauli (public holiday), Chhath (it usually falls in Kartik but in 2015 it fell...
dhol (kirat) in various cultural festivals such as Sakela, Chyabrung, Udhauli, Ubhauli and other social functions. This is also known as the Taal. v...
Nwagi (Nepali: न्वागी), also spelled Nuwagi or Udhauli, is a major festival celebrated the by Kirati people (Yakkha , Limbu , Rai , Sunuwar ) and Chepang...
India n.d.). Sakela is the gathering of Rai people for the celebration of Udhauli and Ubhauli. Sakela is actually affiliated with Chamling people of Kirati...
The Kirati ethnic group Rais, Limbus, Sunuwars and Yakkhas celebrate Udhauli and Ubhauli as their main festival. Popular Hindu deities are Durga, Kali...
festivals: Sakela/Sakewa Ubhauli during planting season and Sakela/Sakewa Udhauli during the harvest. The British had recruited Gurkhas ethnicity-wise; four...
Retrieved 2018-03-15. "Limbu community perform Chyabrung dance to celebrate Udhauli - Purbeli News". Purbeli News. Archived from the original on 2018-03-16...
performed during multiple occasions such as marriage, festivals such as Udhauli, carnivals and celebrations. It can be performed in pairs or in groups...
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