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Editorial
Religion and Belief
Nepal’s Indigenous Kirat Community Celebrates Udhauli Festival With Sakela Dance
Hundreds Of Kirati Community Members Gathered In Lalitour Dancing And Praying The God With The Onset Of Harvest Festival Which Is Also Known As Udhauli. Kirant Men And Women Clad In Traditional Attire Are Observing The Festival By Beating Drum, Cymbals And Imitating The Activities Of Birds And Other Animals And Exchanging Greetings With Each Other. This Festival Is Celebrated By Worshiping Land And Ancestors In Hopes Of Getting Better Crops, Health And Property. Kirat Mundhum, The Holy Book Of Kirat Mentions That The Year Of 365 Days Is Divided Into Two Phases Ubhauli (going Up) And Udhauli (going Down). People In Old Days Used To Move Uphill And Downhill During These Seasons. Ubhauli Is Celebrated Every Year On Baishak Sulka Purnima, On The Same Day As Buddha Purnima/ Buddha Jayanti On The Nepali Month Of Baishak (April-May). Traditionally, During The Summer, The Kirat People Used To Move Uphill To Avoid The Heat And Malaria. They Performed Ubhauli Rituals Before They Moved And During That They Worshipped Their Ancestors And Nature For Better Health And Crops. Traditionally The Kirat People Used To Climb Up To The Mountains In Summer To Avoid The Heat And Malaria (epidemic) After Performing The Ubhauli Rituals. During These Traditional Rituals They Worship Their Ancestors And Nature, Seeking Better Wealth And Crops. At The Start Of Winter With Similar Rituals For Udhauli They Used To Move Down The Hill.
