Udhauli: Kirats Festival on Harvest and Migration Downwards

Udhauli Parva also known as “Yamsanyah” is a festival celebrated in Kirat Community by Sunuwar, Limbu, Yakkha, Khambu Rai, etc. ethnicities of Nepal and India.

This festival is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Mangsir (8^th month) according to Nepali calendar, which is often in the month of December.

Kirat

The word “Kirat” means “The People of Mountain” and “lion-hearted people” or “people of a lion nature”. Kirati people are native to northeastern hilly regions of Nepal and are well-known all over the country for the richness and uniqueness of their culture and traditions, who are mostly nature worshippers.

Kirat (“Kiranti”) are ancient people who have been associated with the history of Nepal for thousands of years. According to the history of Nepal, the Kirats ruled for about 1,225 years (800 BC–300 AD). And their reign had 29 kings.

Why is Udhauli Festival Celebrated?

Udhauli Parva is celebrated every year symbolizing the migration phase downwards towards the lower elevation as it is believed that the festival marks the start of winter season. So people, birds and animals migrate from colder regions to warmer regions.

Similarly the migration from lower elevation to higher elevation is called “Ubhauli”, and it’s another yearly festival of Kirats.

In the Kirati language as well as in Nepali, Udho means “down” and Ubho means “up”. And the word “Auli” means pointing in a certain direction. Thus, “Udhauli” refers to moving downwards whereas “Ubhauli” refers to moving upwards.

Also Udhauli Parva is celebrated to thank deities, ancestors, and nature for providing a good harvest.

How is Udhauli Parva Celebrated?

Udhauli Parva is celebrated by organizing a feast and performing their ethnic dance “Sakewa”, commonly known as “Sakela Naach”. 

Sakela Dance

Sakela dance is popular all around Nepal and is performed by dancing harmoniously in a circle with the beat of the musical instruments like Dhol, Jhyamta, Baja, etc.

Men and women form circles while wearing colorful clothing, their flowing motions following the migration of animals and birds. The dance serves as more than just entertainment; it’s a celebration of unity, a prayer for health, and a link to their cultural history.

Sakela dance steps were passed down from ancestors that had been copied from the lifestyle of animals and their behaviors.

During the dance each tribe of kirat communities perform their own dance steps according to their sub clans. As Sakela is a dance for respecting the mother earth, it is believed to please nature as appreciating nature’s gift to humans. So, in each step of Sakela the dancer shows how civilization began and how Kirati people learned to live in harmony with animals and birds.

The main destinations for the Sakela are Khotang, Bhojpur, Dharan, Dhankuta, Pathari, Kanepokhari, Kerabari etc.

Dressing for Sakela Dance

Beautiful Kirati women dance the Sakela Naach wearing ethnic Guneu – called chhit ko guneu ordaining their traditional jewelers like Shir Phool, Sirbandi, Chimpti, Jun (moon) clip, Phuli, Bulaki, Tilahari, Pote, chandrahar, company har, kalli, etc. 

Men dance with their traditional wear Daura Suruwal with pheta (white cloth turban) on their head and some adorn it with feathers carrying traditional weapon khukuri and bow and arrow.

Dhunge Khule

For the celebration of Udhauli Parva, families prepare the traditional feast with freshly harvested crops.  And Dhunge Khule is one of the delicacies during the celebration.

Dhunge Khule is a dish made with millet and local herbs, bursting with earthy flavors.

Along with it, other traditional dishes like Alu Roti, Khichadi, etc. are prepared.

Udhauli Celebration Rituals

On the day of Udhauli, people clean their houses and surroundings, then Chula (a fireplace exclusively kept for the Kul) Puja is done by Kirati Rai priest Nakchhong. After Chula Puja, the Earth and serpent ( which are regarded as the King and Queen) are worshiped.

Then Nakchhong performs a sacrificial rite (usually with chicken) over a sacred place known as “Sakela thaan”, which is usually under a sacred tree. The Nakchhong signals the completion of the puja by starting the dance himself or herself. 

After this, the celebratory Sakela Naach is started.

Myths of Udhauli

Udhauli Parva is based on the Kirati mythology of the god of the sun, Paruhang falling in love with the god of the earth, Sumnima.

God Paruhang was so struck by the beauty of Sumnima that he gifted a comb and proposed to her to marry. She accepted, and thus the heavens and the earth were joined in marriage and lived together in bliss, and had four children.

But one day Paruhang disappeared without any warning. Sumnina worried about her missing husband for several days. But despite her sadness, she still had her children to love and care for.

So, one day while searching for food in the forest to feed her children, she found a creeper plant that would give her power, happiness, strength, and the urge to speak the truth if she ate it.

Believing that these feelings could help others, she made the plant into a Buti (traditional talisman) that people could wear. This talisman helped many to find peace and happiness in their lives, and she was content with that, although she still missed her husband greatly.

After several days, Paruhang returned to Sumnima and she made him wear the Buti (talisman) which made Paruhang also very happy and started telling her the truth about his time in Heaven and earth atop the Chomolungma (Mt Everest). He had meditated and visited the entire universe. He then promised her that he would never leave her again to which Sumnima danced with joy- “the Sakela dance”. 

Therefore this dance is associated with finding love where young boys and girls participate to find each other.

Kirat King Yalambar

Also another myth tells that, the kirat king Yalambar dreamt of a divine being asking him to celebrate the harvest with joy and music. Thus, this divine dream birthed Udhauli, a celebration that transcends generations, connecting the Kirat people to their ancestors and the bountiful land they cherish.

Udhauli Parva FAQs

On this same day, Newari community celebrates special festival, Yomari Punhi.