The Kirat Community has observed the Udhauli festival by organizing various programs across the country today.
The Udhauli festival which falls on the full moon day of the Nepali month Mangsir is known by various names, such as Sakela (Rai), Chasok Tangnam (Limbu), Chauwa (Yakkha) and Syandar (Sunuwar).
“Udhauli festival is celebrated by the people from the Kirat Community on the full moon day of the Nepali month Mangsir,” said Hari Chongbang, the former central chairman of Kirat Yakthung Chumlung.
The Kirat people are the worshippers of nature and offer newly ripened crops to deities before they consume. A belief has it that if it is eaten without offering to the deities, something bad will happen to the members of their family. Hence, the celebration of the Udhauli festival is considered a way of thanking nature for good harvest, said Sesehang Phiyak, the editor of Mangena Monthly.
Clad in traditional attires, the Kirat people celebrated this festival by dancing and worshiping nature in areas including Nakhipot and Hattivan of Lalitpur today.
Government officials including Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati also participated in the event.
