Qatar-based Nepalese Kirats celebrated Udhauli, their biggest festival, at Quality Hypermarket along Salwa Road last weekend.
The programme was jointly organised by Kirat Yakthumg Chumlung (KYC), Kirat Rai Yayokkha (KRY) and Sunuwar Service Society (SSS) and attended by more than 400 community members dressed in their traditional attires. Community leaders Shiyaram Chaudhary and SSS President Nar Bahadur Sunuwar were among the guests.
Udhauli festival is marked in the month of Mangsir (November/December). The Kirats celebrate the festival by organising a feast to thank nature for providing them with good harvest. Saleka dance is traditionally performed at the festival, which why it is also known is Sakela Udhauli.
Mangsir Purnima (the day of the full moon in the eighth month of Nepalese lunar calendar) is the day when Sakela Udhauli is celebrated. Since the Kirats live in the hilly areas of Nepal, they migrate downloads in winters to escape the cold. This migration downwards is called Udhauli and forms the basis of the festival’s name. The day marks the official start of winter for the Kirats.
The first performance at the event last weekend was a welcome dance by KYC artistes Manju Rai, Rabina Rai, Anita Rai, Ganesh Rai, Deepak Rai, Bimal Limbu, Deepak Rai, Parash Rai, Sita Rai and Padam Rai. The dance was choreographed by Babin Rai and Tirtha Rai. In their dance, they showcased how the Kirat love Mother Nature and its beauty and how nature is important for every farmer.
Sunita Limbu, Kabita Tamang and other KYC artistes performed a Sakela dance to the tune of ethnic musical instruments like the dhol and jhyamta. KYC artistes also performed Chambung and Bijuwo folk dances.
SSS artistes Bhakta Bahadur Sunuwar, Sita Sunuwar, Padam Bahadur Sunuwar, Hem Kumar Sunuwar, Basanta Sunuwar, Jona Kanta Sunuwar, Rupak Sunuwar, Netra Bahadur Sunuwar, Anita Sunuwar, Asha Sunuwar, Sarswoti Sunuwar and Vokesh Sunuwar performed the Jhakri dance. Their half-hour-long performance depicted how Nepalese plant saplings in their fields. The artistes also played traditional Nepalese instruments during the performance.
Artistes from KRY also performed a different interpretation of Sakela dance. Their dance was inspired by the way ducks, river birds, black bird, deer, and other animals moved. They got a number of people from the audience to join them in the dance, with the male and female leader guiding their moves.
Another group of artistes performed the Chandi dance. The programme was hosted by Damber Libang Limbu and Man Kumar Yamgo, and Amrit Kumar Rai co-ordinated it.