Kirati people joyfully celebrate Ubhauli festival in Gokarna (photos)
Dressed in exquisite Rai attire and adorned with ethnic jewelry, participants showcased their rich heritage through folk dances, rituals, and musical performances.
KATHMANDU: The Kirat Rai community across Nepal is celebrating the vibrant and culturally significant Ubhauli festival today, marking one of the most important occasions in their calendar.
The festival falls annually on the full moon day of Baisakh Shukla Purnima, signifying a sacred seasonal migration and a time for prayers and cultural reverence.
In the Kathmandu Valley, members of the Kirat community gathered in large numbers at the Yagyadol (Jagadol) Community Forest in Gokarneshwor-4 to observe the festival with traditional enthusiasm.
Dressed in exquisite Rai attire and adorned with ethnic jewelry, participants showcased their rich heritage through folk dances, rituals, and musical performances.
The term Ubhauli literally means “upward movement.” The festival symbolizes the seasonal migration of people and livestock from the lowlands (bensi) to the highlands (lek) as the summer heat intensifies. In contrast, Udhauli, celebrated in the winter month of Mangsir, marks the return to the lower regions as cold weather sets in.
Ubhauli is a major celebration among the Kirati ethnic groups, including the Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar, and Yakkha communities.
It coincides with the onset of the spring season and is deeply rooted in nature worship.
Communities offer prayers for a good harvest and protection from natural disasters by performing Bhumi Puja (worship of the land).
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