Sakela (Nepali: साकेला) is one of the main festival of Kirat Rai people, an ethnic group indigenous to Eastern Nepal and Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling regions of India. 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 Baisakh) and Sakela Udhauli is celebrated during the full moon day in the month of Mangsir.[1][2][3]
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 fifteen 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. In this festival the Rai people honour Bhumi dev, an Earth goddess.[citation needed]
Sakela danceedit
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 sili reflects the different aspects of human life and their relationship with nature.[4]
Variationsedit
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]
In namesedit
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]
Bahing or Bayung Rai performing Segro Silli dance.
Among the various Rai languages Sakela is also called:[citation needed]
^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.
^ abSchlemmer, 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.
^ ab"Dancing to Ubhauli tunes". The Kathmandu Post. May 17, 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
^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.
^Pradeep Rai (21 July 2021). "Kirat Khambu Rai Sakela - Sakewa". Himalayan Cultures. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sakela.
United Kirat Rai Organization of America
December 01, 2023
sakela, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2021, learn, when, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Sakela news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Sakela Nepali स क ल is one of the main festival of Kirat Rai people an ethnic group indigenous to Eastern Nepal and Sikkim Kalimpong and Darjeeling regions of India 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 Baisakh and Sakela Udhauli is celebrated during the full moon day in the month of Mangsir 1 2 3 SakelaSakela Ubhauli in Tundikhel Kathmandu Nepal 2008Also calledSakewaSakhewaSakenwaWassBhumeFolsyandarUbhauliUdhauliTosiToshEksamangSegroFagulakObserved byKirat Rais around the worldObservancesSakela sili cultural group dance religious services family meetings relative meetingsBeginsSakela Udhauli full moon day of Mangsir and Sakela Ubhauli full moon day of Baishak EndsAfter 15 days2023 date5 May Sakela Ubhauli26 December Sakela Udhauli Contents 1 Significance 2 Sakela dance 3 Variations 3 1 In names 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksSignificance editKirats 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 fifteen 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 In this festival the Rai people honour Bhumi dev an Earth goddess citation needed Sakela dance editThe 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 sili reflects the different aspects of human life and their relationship with nature 4 Variations editAmong 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 In names edit 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 nbsp Bahing or Bayung Rai performing Segro Silli dance Among the various Rai languages Sakela is also called citation needed Sakewa or Sakenwa in Bantawa Dungmali and Mewahang languages Tosh Kulung and Nachhiring Toshi in Thulung Segro in Bahing Iksamang or Balipuja in Lohorung and Yamphu Fagulak in PumaGallery edit nbsp Offerings made to Paruhang and Sumnima the ancestral deity nbsp Kirati Rai women in Sakela Ubhauli festival nbsp Women in traditional Rai wear 2019 nbsp A Rai man playing traditional drum Dhol nbsp Rai Girl Playing Jhyamta in Sakela Ubhauli festival 2017 Kurseong See also editKirat Mundhum Kirat RegionReferences edit 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 a b Schlemmer Gregoire 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 a b Dancing to Ubhauli tunes The Kathmandu Post May 17 2011 Retrieved 8 May 2012 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 Tromso Pradeep Rai 21 July 2021 Kirat Khambu Rai Sakela Sakewa Himalayan Cultures Retrieved 21 July 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sakela United Kirat Rai Organization of America Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sakela amp oldid 1182271892, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
