Sakela: A dance of nature, identity, and ancestral pride
For the Kirat Rai community, this is more than a dance—it's a profound cultural expression and a sacred communion with nature and ancestry.
KATHMANDU: Echoes of traditional Kirat songs resonate across the Sakela Than as youths clad in vibrant ethnic attire move rhythmically in a circle, syncing their steps to the beating of dhol and jhyamta.
For the Kirat Rai community, this is more than a dance—it’s a profound cultural expression and a sacred communion with nature and ancestry.
“Sakela is not just a dance for me; it’s a deep dialogue with our land,” says Parbati Rai from Dharan-19. “We used to read about Sakela in books. But participating in it made me realize it’s a powerful expression of our identity.”
Celebrated each year on Baishakh Shukla Purnima (April–May), the Ubhauli Sakela festival marks the start of the planting season. The community gathers at Bhumesthan—ancestral altars in villages—to offer prayers for a fruitful harvest. As elders explain, this festival reflects a deep respect for the Earth, nature, and the agricultural cycle.
While Udhauli (observed in Mangsir, around December) is typically a one-day event, Ubhauli festivities stretch over a month. Despite the strong presence of Western music in modern cities like Dharan, the youth show strong engagement in traditional festivals like Sakela, embracing it as a symbol of cultural pride.
From the streets of Itahari to the hills of Bhojpur, and even in the diaspora communities of Kathmandu, Sakela has become a living bridge between past and present. Dancers in daura suruwal, gunyo cholo, lacha, and traditional jewelry circle around, offering thanks to nature and ancestors through movement and music.
“Sakela is a force—like a rock—it changes form but never loses its essence,” says Rajendra Rai, President of Kirat Rai Yayokkha Sunsari. He explains the three forms of Sakela Sili (dance movements):
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Aradhanatmak Sili – reverential dance honoring elements like sun, rain, wind, and earth.
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Anukaranatmak Sili – mimicry of natural creatures such as birds and insects.
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Pratikriyatmak Sili – expressive dance portraying daily life like carrying loads or ploughing fields.
Thousands of such sili make up the tapestry of the Sakela tradition, with Haakpare Sili—the most revered—symbolizing gratitude to nature, unity in the community, and reverence for ancestors.
Veteran participant Bishnu Rai (81), from Dharan-15, recalls, “We used to start the dance barefoot straight from the paddy fields after offering mang (prayers). It wasn’t about show—it was about feeling. Today’s Sakela is vibrant, but its spiritual depth feels somewhat diluted by modernity.”
In the past, Ubhauli began with pitri puja—honoring ancestors—a practice still observed in eastern hills. “One cannot cross the Koshi River for Sakela without first remembering one’s ancestors,” says Chintamani Rai, Vice President of the Dharan Bantawa Sili Lakchham Conservation Committee.
Sakela’s popularity is growing rapidly across eastern Nepal, including Dharan, Itahari, Belbari, Damak, and Kakarbhitta. Its celebration is equally vibrant in Kathmandu, especially in neighborhoods with large Kirat populations. Among the four Kirat groups—Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar, and Yakkha—the Rai place special emphasis on Ubhauli, while others celebrate Udhauli with more prominence.
The festival is rooted in ecological observation. It is believed that after Baishakh Purnima, birds and wild animals begin their upward migration to the hills, and during Mangsir Purnima, they descend back. These transitions are seen as metaphors for prosperity and regeneration.
In recognition of the cultural significance, the Government of Nepal declared Ubhauli and Udhauli as national Kirat festivals, granting public holidays in 2007 and 2001 respectively. Since then, their celebration has become more prominent, fostering cultural pride and intergenerational continuity.
As Santosh Rai of Kanepokhari puts it, “When I dance Sakela, I feel like I’m conversing with the wind, soil, and my ancestors all at once.” And for Pavitra Rai of Itahari, Sakela is not just an identity, but a responsibility—a tribute to the sacrifices of forebears who lived in harmony with nature.
