Udhauli Parva celebrated by Kirant community

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Udhauli Parva was celebrated by the Kirant community on the 25th of December in Tundikhel amid great fanfare and revelry.

The festival took off with Bhumi Puja or Land worship, where the community gives it thanks to mother nature for the bountiful harvest this season. The celebrations then moved on to the ‘Sakela Dance’, where men and women in traditional attire dance in a big circle to a ditty, with traditional music instruments like dhol, jhyamta and madal.

Udhauli, which means downwards, heralds the start of the winter season and derives its name from the ‘downwards’ migration of birds and animals to warmer lands during the winter. Similarly, Ubhauli Parva, which is celebrated in the summer, derives its name from the ‘ubho’ or ‘upwards’ migration of the animals.

Kirant community consists of different ethnic groups like Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar and Yakkha who are nature-worshippers. Udhauli Parva is celebrated on the full moon day of every Mangsir – eighth month of the Nepali calendar.