"This is complete ridiculousness – I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. I am so happy to say a big thank you to Ben and Holly Hilty for the commitment and creativity they gave to this project. Without them this video would be just like my ability to speak Nepali – only a dream."
Sakela is the main festival
of Kirat Rai which is celebrated twice a year distinguished by two names
Ubhauli and Udhauli. Sakela is celebrated during Baishak Purnima full moon day and Sakela Udhauli is celebrated duing the full moon day in the month of
Mangshir.
Characteristic:
The
main characteristic of this festival is the Sakela dance performed by large
groups of Kirats wearing their traditional attire. People from all ages dance
together in a large circle. There are male and female leaders in each circle
known as Silimangpa and Silimangma respectively. These two
people control the sili of the dance while
the other dancers imitate them. The sili, style of the dance moves, reflects
the different aspects of human life and our relationship with nature. The
ritual starts with the chula puja, worship of chula, at home by the kirat
priest Nachhong. After completion of
the chula puja, Nachhong performs a
sacrificial rite (usually with chicken) over a sacred place known as Sakela Thann, which is usually under a
sacred tree. The Nachhong signals the competion of rituals by starting the saleka dance by him and the actual group sakela dance commences then, all dancer form a large circle and dance joyously around it. The beating of Dhol (drum) and the Jhamta accompany the different silies guided by the Silimangpa. Among Kirat Rai,Yakkga and Sunwar celebrate this festival, whereas Limbu's have their own Chasok Tangnam.
Kirati Sisters in the
typical cultural dress
Significance:
According to the Kirat holy book, Mundhum, a
year is divided into two phases: Ubhauli (Going up) and Udhauli (Going down).
It is generally accepted that the naming comes from the migration pattern of
birds. During the start of the winter season in Mangsir, the birds migrate
downward toward the warmer Terrain belt, and thus this phase of the year is
known as Udhauli, meaning Downward. Likewise, during the
rise of the summer season, the birds migrate upward to the cooler Hilly region,
and therefore this latter phase is known as Ubhauli.
Kirat believe in Shamanism and are worshippers of
Mother Nature. The Sakela celebration is a prayer to Mother Nature for healthy
crops and protection from natural calamities. Therefore, the festival is also
known as "Bhumi Puja". Starting on Baishak Purnima, Sakela Ubhauli is
celebrated for 15 days in Baisakh (April/May) marking the beginning of the
farming year.
Similarly, the celebration of Sakela Udhauli during
Mangsir (November/December) which is harvest season is their way of giving
thanks to nature for providing them with a good harvest.
Kirati with the traditional
musical instrument-Dhol Jhyamta
The celebration of Sakela is connected to many myths.
According to Kirat Mythology, it is said that before the marriage of Sumnima and Paruhang, Paruhang used to live in
the heavens .One day, he saw beautiful Sumnima on earth and fell in love with
her. He made her a beautiful comb and sent it to Sumnima who wished to wed him. Four children were born after marriage. But
Paruhang left Sumnima in a hut on the bank of the Dudhkoshi River and did not
return for a long time. One day, Sumnima saw a creeper growing on a rock while
she was in search of food for her children. She tasted the creeper and found it
was full of power and happiness. She brought the creeper and made a Buti, an
intoxicating religious garland. The Buti inspired everybody who saw
it to speak the truth about her/his life. One day Paruhang returned suddenly.
He tried to counsel with the angry Sumnima. She then gave him the Buti. This
immediately made him glad and he started to tell her about what he had done. He
had spent the time looking at Heaven and Earth from atop Chomolongma (Mount Everest). He also told her that he
had meditated and visited the entire universe. Paruhang promised not to leave
her again, which made Sumnima dance with joy. It is believed that her joyous
dance is the 'Sakela Dance'. And so tradition has that young boys and girls
comes to participate in Sakela in order to meet each other and find their love.
According to the Mundhum, Rai (Kirat) came out of the
Khuwalung (sea or big river) meaning the Ganges river. Then followed the small
river or the Saptakoshi. On their journey they first met with a duck, then the
river bird (dhobi chara), Black bird (kalchuda), deer (mirga), (thar) musk deer
(Kasturi) etc. They journeyed through the Arun valley, Dudh Koshi valley, Sun
Koshi valley, Tama Koshi valley and finally settled down in the Bhote Koshi
valley. The Nachhong, or the leader of the Sakela, narrates this Mundhum
(history). When he carries out the ritual in Sakela he tells the Mundhum
(story) of how our ancestor came out of the Khuwalung and met a duck and at the
same time he dances in the pattern (sili) of a duck, likewise when he talks
about the Dhobi Chara he dances in the pattern of the Dhobi Chara. This is the
Kirat way of relating the story (Mundhum) verbally and through acting.
Current Trend:
The Sakela dance has become very popular in the cities of
Nepal and abroad particularly among the younger generation. Kirat Rai celebrating this
festival widely outside of Nepal as well specially in Sikkim, Hong Kong, United
Kingdom, Australia and United States. However, the real flavour of the dance
can only be seen in the eastern hills of Nepal. This interest in Sakela has
helped to spread the Nepali culture all across the world.
Here is a documentary videos about Kirat Rai and their culture:
References:
The
Kathmandu Post. December 21, 2010
Kirat Rai Yayokha, Nepal
United Kirat Rai ,USA [ Photos and Videos are posted with respect ]
Thames River किनारमा रहेको एउटा बारमा छु। अगाडी कर्ल्स्बेर्ग समय विताउने सुरमा छु। तेसैले वियर रित्याई हाल्दिन बरु कचौराको पिनट्स मुठ्याउछु र एक एक गर्दै चपाउछु। Western गीत बजिरहेको छ। अगाडिको कुर्शीमा सानो जिउडालको राम्री केटी देख्छु। शान्त कतै हेरी रहेकी उसको आँखा केहि बेरमै ममा पर्छ। म पनि हेरिदिन्छु। आँखा जुझ्न पुग्छ। उ मुस्कुराउछ अनि म पनि। मिलेको त्यो मुहार, जिन्स पेन्ट र कम्पनी टिसट लगाएकी परी झैँ देखिएको छ।
त्यो रमझम बारमा जाने मेरो कुनै योजना थिएन। न त त्यति राम्री केटी भेटिन्छ भने पनि कुनै कल्पना गरेको थिइन। दिनभरको घुमघाम र किन्मेल पछि वेलुका यो बारमा पुगेको छु। भोलि त दोहा कतार हुदै आफ्नो देश फर्कनु नै छ। चुपचाप डेरामा कोची बस्न धैर्य भएन। घुम्न निस्के, बेलुकाको ७ बजिसकेछ गीत सानो रन्केको छैन "लेट्स गो फर डान्स" शुरीलो आवाज कानमा पर्छ। आवाज छेउबाटै आएको रहेछ, मेरै लागि। अघि कै केटी मलाई नाच्न आग्रह गर्दैछ। हल्लाले सुन्न धेरै ध्यान दिन परेकोछ। उ मेरो नजिक आउछ। कानै टोकौला झैँ गरेर भन्छ "जाने होइन त नाच्न" ! "यो गीतमा होइन" म टार्न खोज्छु। मेरो हात पो तान्न थाल्छ। अगाडी अलिकति खाली ठाउँ छ नाच्ने कोहि छैन, सबै आ-आफ्नो धुनमा कोहि गफ-शफ कोहि शान्त भएर गीत सुनी रहेको झैँ देखिन्छन आ-आफ्नो चुस्कीसंगै। "आउ न जाम नाच्न" उसको ढिपी मायालाग्दो छ "अर्को गीत त बजोस" उसलाई भन्छु यसै भन्दै टारिरहन्छु। उ रिसाए झैँ आ-जाती भएर जान्छे अनि नाच्न थाल्छ। अर्को गीत बज्न थाल्छ... Excuse Meh! पछाडीबाट फेरी कसैले कोट्याउछ। उनि फेरी आएछ। New Song उ फेरी मलाई नाच्न जाऊ भन्ने इसारा गर्दैछे। मेरो अटेरीपन यहि आएर हार्छ। हातमा पक्रेर बच्चालाई झैँ मलाई डोर्याउछ। मलाई राम्रो नाच्न आउदैन। उसकै नाच्ने चाल पछ्याउछु। अब बिस्तारै रमाइलो लाग्न थालेको छ। गीत सकिए पछि म फेरी टेवल तिर फर्किन्छु। उ पनि छेउमा आएर बस्छ। उसको नाम सोधे, नाम रोज रहेछ, "गुलाफ जस्तै छौ असाधै राम्री" म फुर्काई दिन्छु। अब हामी खुल्न थालेका छौ। उसको घर Plumstead रहेछ बिहान कलेज बेलुकी बारको जागिरे उ हात समातेरै टेबलमा नाच्न थाल्छ। म पनि बेला बेलामा टेबल डान्स गरिदिन्छु। उ अझ नजिक आउछ। बार बन्द हुने बेला भैसकेछ वेटरहरु कुदा-कुद् गर्न थाल्छन। एउटा वेटर मेरो टेबलमा पनि आउछ र बिल थमाउछ। केटी रोज सकिएको वेयर र वेनको ग्लास लैजान वेटरलाई संकेत् गर्छ। कुराकानी सकिएको छैन तर सक्न बाध्य छु। ओरीपरी हल्ला यसरी बढेकोछ कि हामी एक अर्काले बोलेको सुनिरहेका छैनौ। मोवाइल नम्बेर टिप्न मेरो मोवेइल "ON" हुदैन। बेट्री उफफफा! घडी हेर्छु रातको १० बजिसकेछ। घर पुगेर खाना खानु त छदै छ तर यो निश्चित छ कि उसंगको अपुरो कुराकानीले खाना पछि पनि म भोकै हुनेछु। "नाइस टु मिट इयु" हात मिलाउदै मलिन मुखले उ धेरै खुशी भएको भन्दै दुवै हातले बेसरी समात्छ । हामी छुट्नु नै छ, म ढोकामा पुगेर पछाडी हेर्छु। उ पनि हेरी रहेको छ वाई वाई हात हल्लाउदै म बाहिर निस्कन्छु...
Tongba is a millet-based alcoholic beverage found in the eastern region of Nepal. It is the traditional and indigenous drink of the Kirati (Rai and Limbu) people of eastern Nepal. Tongba is culturally and religiously important to the Kirati people.
Tongba actually is the vessel which holds the fermented alcoholic beverage known as Jaand. Jaand is prepared by cooking and fermenting whole grain millet. The cooked millet is cooled and mixed with marcha (which is a source of molds, bacteria and yeast). Then the mass is collected and placed in a woven bamboo basket lined with green leaves or plastic, covered with thick fold of cloth and allowed to remain in a warm place for 1–2 days depending upon the temperature. The sweet mass is then packed tightly into an earthenware pot or plastic jars and the opening is usually sealed off to prevent air from entering. After 7–15 days also depending upon the temperature, the fermentation is complete and the mass is converted to jaand. The time jaand is left to remain undisturbed in the pot after completion of fermentation leads to maturing of the jaand, during which the flavours and taste intensifies yet become more mellowed. Traditionally it is stored for about six months. It is consumed in a unique way: the fermented millet is put in a container, also traditionally called a Tongba, and boiled water is poured in it to the brim. It is then left undisturbed for about five minutes. Once the five minutes has passed it is ready to drink; a fine bamboo straw with a blind end, but perforated on the side to act as a filter, is inserted into the container to suck out the warm water and alcohol from the millet grains. More hot water is added as the tongba becomes dry, and the process is repeated until the alcohol is exhausted
You and I, we've come so far, but yet we still have a long way to go before we can touch the tip of an iceberg, and say that we know love as beautiful. We have shared some private confessions, but yet... we refuse to let go, and experience the things that can change the way we view love as something special. We can dream of the time and place... we can dream of the moment, the rhythm, and the pace that makes the ordinary... unsual, and new.
We can lay there and wish that just a piece of the dream comes true, but it will all be just wasted motions... waves rolling over the mysteries of oceans if we keep the secrets to ourselves.
Yes, you and I, we've come so far, but yet we still have a long way to go before we can touch the tip of an iceberg, and say that we know love as beautiful. I long to see you blossom just as much as you'd like to see me glow, but neither one of us wants to budge an inch...
Meanwhile, the iceberg continues to melt away slowly as we bask in the few moments of our own relief only to have that passion come back to haunt us once again. We've yet to see just how beautiful love can be because pride keeps us from taking a swan dive into a blissful sea.
