CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS: Udhaw Li – A Kirata Festival
Source: Barun Roy
THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE]
TEXTS AND IMAGES BY BISHAL RAI
Offerings to the elements and the ancestors
A Kirata Shaman makes offerings to the elements and the ancestors
Udhaw Li (udhawli) is a festival of all Kirata peoples. It is believed that from this day the winter season starts, hence, people, birds and animal migrate from cold regions to warmer regions. This kind of migration occurs twice in a year. The celebration of migrating downwards during this season is called “Udhauli” and the celebration of migrating upwards during the season of Baisakh (April or May) is called “Ubhauli”.
Kirata people perform a special kind of dance called “Sakela” in during this festival. The dance is accompanied by musicians playing various muscial instruments such as Chabrung, Dhol, Jhyamta etc. The Kirata women wear“Chhit ko Guneu” (specially patterened cloth) while the men wear a white cloth around their head.
The specific rites to be performed during this festival is dictated in the Kirata Mundhum, the holy book of the Kirata people.
This festival is also referred to as “Bhumi Puja” (Worship of Land) as it involves the worship of the mother earth and seeking of the blessings for good cultivation of the crops and for the thanking of Gods for the bounty offered in the previous season.
A Kirata Shaman
A Kirata Shaman making offering to a tree
A Kirata Shaman in trance
A young Kirata boy performing a dance
A young Kirata boy performing a dance
A young Kirata boy and a young Kirata belle
A Kirata man playing the Chabrung
A group of Kirata musicians playing their instruments
Kirata girls performing a traditional dance
Kirata men playing a flute and a Sarangi
A gathering of young and old Kiratas
Kirata men with their traditional headgear
Young boys and girls performing a traditional dance
Robi Rai, President of the Khambu Association (centre) along with friends
A Kirata Shaman with part of his face covered by feathers
A Kirata Shaman during a transcendental dance
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