Sakela

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sakela (Nepali:साकेला)
Swing of Sakela Sili.jpg
Sakela Ubhauli in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2008
Also calledChandi
Sakewa
Sakhewa
Sakenwa
Wass
Bhume
Folsyandar
Ubhauli
Udhauli
Tòsī
Tòsh
Segro
Observed byKirat Rais around the world
TypeRai, Kirati Culture
ObservancesSakela sili, cultural group dance, religious services, family meetings, relative meetings
BeginsSakela Udhauli (full moon day of Mangsir ) and Sakela Ubhauli (full moon day of Baishak)
EndsAfter fifteen days
2022 date

Sakela (Nepali: साकेला) is one of the main festival of ( Kirat Rais,)an ethnic group, indigenous native of Nepal, Sikkim and Darjeeling , Kalimpong Sakela is Celebrated twice a year and is 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 Mangsir.[1][2][3]

Characteristics[]

The main characteristic of this festival is a ritual dance call Sakela dance performed by large groups of Kirats on 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 sili reflects the different aspects of human life and their relationship with nature.[4]

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.[2] 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.[5]

Significance[]

Kirats believe in shamanism and are worshippers of nature. The Sakela celebration is a prayer to mother nature for healthy crops and protection from natural calamities.[3] The festival is Started on Baisakh Purnima, Sakela Ubhauli is celebrated for 15 days in Baisakh (April/May) marking the beginning of the farming year. Similarly, the celebration of Sakela Udhauli during Mangsir (November/December), which is the harvest season, is the giving of thanks to mother nature for providing a good harvest.

References[]

  1. ^ Gaenszle, Martin (1997). "Changing concepts of ethnic identity among the Mewahang Rai". Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom. The Politics of Culture in Contemporary Nepal: 351–373.
  2. ^ a b Schlemmer, Grégoire (2004). "New past for the sake of a better future : re-inventing the history of the Kirant in East Nepal". European Bulletin of Himalayan Research. 25: 119–144.
  3. ^ a b "Dancing to Ubhauli tunes". The Kathmandu Post. May 17, 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  4. ^ Rai, Dik Bahadur (2012). The impacts of Modernization on the traditional Sakawa Sili festival in the Rai Kirat community of Nepal: a case study of the Rai community (Thesis). University of Tromsø.
  5. ^ Himalayan, Cultures. "Kirat Khambu Rai Sakela/Sakewa". Retrieved 2021-07-21.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""