May
11
2009
Day before yesterday, we Kirat(Rai and Limbu) celebrated the main festival Ubhauli here at Steel Park Sydney. This Udhauli festival is called from different names from different groups. Such as Rai call it Sakela, Limbu call it Chasok Tangnam, and other might call it Bhume, Folsyandar etc.
This is celebrated two time in one year. Ubhauli is celebrated during the full moon of April/May to denote the commence of cultivation and farming where as Udhauli festival is celebrated during the full moon of November/December thanking gods for giving nice crops and harvesting. The program was organized by Kirat Ykthung Chumlung and Kirat Rai Yayokkha. It has been organizing the program every twice in a year. Chitra Tumbahangphe became the Silimangpa of Limbu. Chyabrung dance was also performed in the event. Dhol and Jhyamta were also used during dancing. The style of dance movement called sili were different for different ethnicity. Many kind of sili were performed including Chamling, Bantawa, Bahing, Limbu and Lohorung. Many attendees were dressed in cultural style. The women wore Chawbandi cholo and Guneu with patuka. The men wore Dhaka topi and daura suruwal.
The event went quite well except some misunderstandings with fooding of typical food like pork meat, beaten rice with Jhand (special kind of liquor of Kiratis). It was a great fun to be the part of the event.
सोई सोई ला हो हुर्रा हा हा …………….. !
2 comments | posted in Australia, Chasok Tangnam, Kirat, Sakela, Sili, Sydney, Ubhauli, Udhauli
Dec
12
2008
Today is the Udhauli festival of all Kirati people. It is believed that from this day the winter season starts. So people, birds and animal migrate from cold regions to warmer regions. This kind of migration occurs twice in a year. The celebration of migrating downwards during this season is called “Udhauli (उधौली)” and the celebration of migrating upwards during the season of Baisakh (April or May) is called “Ubhauli (उभौली)“.
Kirati people performs a speacial kind of dance called “Sakela” in this event playing various muscial instruments like Dhol, Jhyamta etc and wearing “Chhit ko Guneu” (specially patterened cloth) by Kirati women. This event of Kirati people has also been stated in Mundhum (holy book of Kirati people). This event is also called “Bhumi Puja” (Worship of Land) where Kirati people worship mother nature asking for good cultivation of crops during the season of April and thanking the god for giving good crops during this current season.
The legend of the celebration of Sakela as stated in Wikipedia is as follows:
The celebration is connected to many myths. According to the Kirat Mythology, it is said that before the marriage of
Sumnima and
Paruhang, Paruhang used to live in the heaven .One day, he saw beautiful Sumnima on the earth and fell in love. He made a beautiful comb, sent it to Sumnima who wished wed him.
Four children were born of them after marriage. But Paruhang left Sumnima in a hut on the bank of Dudhkoshi River and did not return for long time. One day, she saw a creeper on a stone while she was in search of food for her children. She tasted the creeper and it was full of power and happiness. She brought the creeper and made Buti, an intoxicating religious garland, and kept it safe. The Buti inspired everybody who saw it to tell the truth of her/his life. Paruhang returned suddenly. He tried to counsel angry Sumnima. She gave the Buti to Paruhang. This immediately made him glad and he started to tell what he had done. He had spent the time looking at the heaven and the earth from the top of Chomolongma (Mt. Everest ). He also said her that he had meditated, and visited the whole universe. Paruhang promised not to leave her, which made Sumnima dance with joy. It is believed the dance is the ‘Sakela Dance’. For this reason, tradition is also that young boys and girls comes to participate this dancing festival to meet each other and find their love.
तपैहरुलाई यो चाड कस्तो लाग्छ ? कमेन्ट गरेर आफ्नो बिचार दिनुहोस । हैप्पी सकेला….!!
2 comments | posted in Bhoomi Puja, Chomolongma, Culture, Dhol, Festivals, Jhyamta, Kirati, Mundhum, Paruhang, Sakela, Sumnima, Ubhauli, Udhauli
Day before yesterday, we Kirat(Rai and Limbu) celebrated the main festival Ubhauli here at Steel Park Sydney. This Udhauli festival is called from different names from different groups. Such as Rai call it Sakela, Limbu call it Chasok Tangnam, and other might call it Bhume, Folsyandar etc.
