http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aYh6zSSdcQendofvid
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Sakela is the main festival of Kirat people which is celebrated twice a year distinguished by two names Ubhauli and Udhauli.
Udhauli means going down: It is believed that from this day the winter season starts. So people, birds and animal migrate
from cold regions to warmer regions. The celebration of migrating downwards during the season of winter (Nov-Dec) is called "Udhauli"
and the celebration of migrating upwards during the season of summer (April-May) is called "Ubhauli". This has been going on since the dawn
of the mankind when the Kirat people were hunters and gatherers which time is immemorial.
Still today, animals and birds have seasonal migratory.
Later when the Kirat people shifted from being hunters and gatherers to agriculturalist, the festival became known as Bhumi Puja or land worshipping
ceremony as Sakela falls on (15th day of the 5th month of Nepali calendar) coinciding with the sowing season. Kirat people are basically nature worshipers
and during this festival prayers are offered to the natural supreme power Kirateswor (Lord of Kiratas), Mother Goddess, spirits, "nag-nagi" and nature asking
for good crops and protection from natural calamities during the season of April (Ubhauli) where people starts to sow crops.
Similarly, the celebration of Sakela Udhauli is the way of thanks giving to Mother Goddess and the nature for providing the good crops, as it is the time for
harvesting before the cold season start to turn in.
The Sakela festival is celebrated with the Sili or ceremonial dances, which have their own significance and unique charm. Dances in different postures depicting
the behavior of animals, birds, etc are performed to express gratitude to the creator.
All Kirat group - Limbu, Rai, Yakkha and Sunuwar, celebrate this festival in different ways and have different names for it. Limbu call it "Chasok Tangnam",
Rai call it "Sakela", Yakkha call it "Chasuwa" and Sunuwar called it "Syadar". Still others called it Bhume, Bhunmidev, Chyabrung, Folsyandar, Saleladi,
Sakewa, Sakenwa, Sakhewa, Sakel, Sime, Tosi, Tosh, Yokwa, etc depending on the sub-tribes of Kirat group and the distribution of Kirat people scattered
across the Himalayan region from Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, Darjeeling, Assam and Sikkim.
[endtext]
[starttext]
Sakela is the main festival of Kirat people which is celebrated twice a year distinguished by two names Ubhauli and Udhauli.
Udhauli means going down: It is believed that from this day the winter season starts. So people, birds and animal migrate
from cold regions to warmer regions. The celebration of migrating downwards during the season of winter (Nov-Dec) is called "Udhauli"
and the celebration of migrating upwards during the season of summer (April-May) is called "Ubhauli". This has been going on since the dawn
of the mankind when the Kirat people were hunters and gatherers which time is immemorial.
Still today, animals and birds have seasonal migratory.
Later when the Kirat people shifted from being hunters and gatherers to agriculturalist, the festival became known as Bhumi Puja or land worshipping
ceremony as Sakela falls on (15th day of the 5th month of Nepali calendar) coinciding with the sowing season. Kirat people are basically nature worshipers
and during this festival prayers are offered to the natural supreme power Kirateswor (Lord of Kiratas), Mother Goddess, spirits, "nag-nagi" and nature asking
for good crops and protection from natural calamities during the season of April (Ubhauli) where people starts to sow crops.
Similarly, the celebration of Sakela Udhauli is the way of thanks giving to Mother Goddess and the nature for providing the good crops, as it is the time for
harvesting before the cold season start to turn in.
The Sakela festival is celebrated with the Sili or ceremonial dances, which have their own significance and unique charm. Dances in different postures depicting
the behavior of animals, birds, etc are performed to express gratitude to the creator.
All Kirat group - Limbu, Rai, Yakkha and Sunuwar, celebrate this festival in different ways and have different names for it. Limbu call it "Chasok Tangnam",
Rai call it "Sakela", Yakkha call it "Chasuwa" and Sunuwar called it "Syadar". Still others called it Bhume, Bhunmidev, Chyabrung, Folsyandar, Saleladi,
Sakewa, Sakenwa, Sakhewa, Sakel, Sime, Tosi, Tosh, Yokwa, etc depending on the sub-tribes of Kirat group and the distribution of Kirat people scattered
across the Himalayan region from Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, Darjeeling, Assam and Sikkim.
[endtext]
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