Nepal’s Sakela Festival: Inside the Kirat Rai Community’s Ancient Rituals, Cultural Heritage, and Growing Tourism Appeal: Check It Out Now

Published on December 6, 2025

The Sakela festival, one of the most vibrant celebrations of the Kirat Rai community in Nepal, reflects a rich cultural tapestry woven through spiritual traditions, ancestral respect, and nature-centered beliefs. Celebrated twice a year—Ubhauli in spring and Udhauli in winter—the festival stands as one of the oldest surviving cultural traditions in the region. Its winter edition, Udhauli, recently began with grandeur in Gaighat, the headquarters of Udayapur, drawing communities from across the Kirat heartland.

This rewritten article explores the festival’s deeper layers: its rituals, collective identity, intergenerational participation, and most importantly, its emerging significance for travel and tourism in Nepal.

Origins of Sakela: A Cultural Legacy Rooted in Nature

An Ancient Celebration of Migration and Harvest

The Sakela festival is closely tied to the agricultural calendar of the Kirat Rai people. Celebrated as Ubhauli during the planting season and Udhauli after the harvest, the festival reflects gratitude towards nature and the ancestors. It symbolizes the seasonal migration of birds and humans, echoing the harmonious living patterns between the community and the natural world.

A Calendar Older Than Civilizations

According to Kirat tradition, the Kirat Sambat (Yele Dung) is believed to be significantly older than both the Nepali Sambat and the widely used Gregorian calendar. The ongoing year of 5082 under this system highlights the deep historical continuity of the Kirat civilization—one of the most ancient cultural streams in Nepal.

Ritual Beginnings: Dawn Worship and Sacred Spaces

Sacred Shrines Mark the Start of Udhauli

Sakela begins with early-morning rituals performed at sacred shrines called Sakela than, Sikhari than, and Machhaku, the latter considered the symbolic ancestral home. These rituals include offerings to deities, prayers for balance between humans and nature, and invocations to ancestral spirits.

These sacred spaces are more than ritual sites— they act as cultural archives, preserving oral histories, mythological memory, and continuity in community identity.

Ritual Specialists Lead the Ceremony

The festival opens with traditional prayers led by a ritual specialist who performs ancient rites according to Kirati customs. These rituals formalize the start of an entire month of communal celebrations.

People from various villages, hill settlements, and valleys gather to witness these ceremonies, reinforcing the collective emotion that binds the Kirat diaspora.

Shili Dance: The Heartbeat of Sakela

The Power of Collective Movement

The highlight of Sakela is the Sakela Shili dance, performed throughout the celebration period. In this dance, participants form a large circle, symbolizing unity, community harmony, and the rhythms of life.

People dressed in vibrant traditional Kirati attire—from young children to elders—dance together, demonstrating intergenerational transmission of cultural values.

Instruments that Carry History

The rhythmic beats of traditional drums, the clash of cymbals, and the swaying of green tree branches bring the dance alive. Each movement represents agricultural activities, nature worship, and mythological stories, making Sakela both a ritual and a living textbook of the Kirat way of life.

Participation Across Regions: A Month of Cultural Gathering

Villages Unite in Gaighat

People from numerous regions—including Aasare, Motigadha, Bokse, Jaljale, Beltar, Basaha, and other areas—travel to Gaighat for the month-long celebration. The gathering transforms the town into a vibrant cultural hub.

Daily Group Performances

During the festival, it is customary for groups to showcase daily dance performances. This practice not only keeps traditions alive but also turns Sakela into an open-air cultural exhibition where every performance narrates a unique aspect of Kirat history.

Beyond Dance: Rituals, Family Bonds, and Ancestor Worship

Household Worship and Blessings

Aside from group dances, families undertake household worship, seeking blessings for prosperity and protection. The exchange of blessings between relatives, daughters, sisters, and extended families strengthens kinship ties.

Honoring Ancestors

A significant feature of Sakela is ancestral remembrance. Offerings are made to departed family members, acknowledging their role in protecting and guiding future generations.

Shikari Rituals

Some regions perform special Shikari worship, an ancient practice that connects hunting traditions with nature-centered spirituality. The rituals serve as a reminder of the community’s historical interactions with forests and wildlife.

Cultural Geography: Sakela Across Nepal

Celebrated Across the Kirat Belt

The festival is widely celebrated in districts such as:

• Udayapur
• Khotang
• Okhaldhunga
• Bhojpur
• Dhankuta
• Sunsari
• Morang
• Ilam
• Jhapa

These regions collectively represent Upper, Central, and Lower Kirat, each adding local flavors to the celebration while maintaining the core spiritual essence.

A Festival That Connects Communities

Sakela does more than celebrate culture; it connects people across scattered settlements, creating a shared sense of belonging through dance, memory, and ritual practice.

Tourism Potential: Sakela as a Cultural Travel Experience

Emerging Interest in Ethnic Tourism

As global travelers increasingly seek authentic cultural experiences, festivals like Sakela are gaining visibility. The month-long celebration offers visitors a rare opportunity to witness indigenous traditions, observe ancient rituals, and participate in communal dances.

Gaighat as a Cultural Tourism Destination

Gaighat, during Sakela, transforms into a vibrant cultural stage. Streets, community spaces, and shrines become centers of activity that attract:

• Cultural researchers
• Photographers
• Documentary filmmakers
• Spiritual travelers
• Festival tourists

The festival offers immersive experiences, including:

• Traditional Kirati attire displays
• Cultural music and dance
• Ritual processions
• Community feasts
• Folk narratives shared by elders

Boost to Local Economy

With visitors arriving from various regions of Nepal and abroad, Sakela contributes to the local economy through:

• Homestays
• Local eateries
• Cultural souvenirs
• Transportation services

In regions where tourism infrastructure is still developing, the festival presents a sustainable model of community-based tourism.

A New Perspective: Sakela as Living Heritage and Cultural Resistance

Preserving Identity in a Globalized Era

In a rapidly modernizing world, the Sakela festival acts as a form of cultural resistance—preserving language, identity, ancestral memory, and indigenous knowledge. Each dance step and ritual reconnects the community to its ecological roots and historical consciousness.

Nature Worship in a Climate-Sensitive World

Sakela’s deep ecological philosophy offers a meaningful perspective today. Its emphasis on seasonal cycles, agricultural gratitude, and harmony with nature reflects a worldview crucial for modern environmental challenges.

Strengthening Intergenerational Bonds

While many festivals struggle to retain youth participation, Sakela stands out with its enthusiastic involvement of young people. This intergenerational energy ensures that the cultural heritage remains alive and evolving.

Conclusion: Sakela’s Place in Nepal’s Cultural Landscape

The Sakela festival is more than a ritual; it is a living cultural monument. Through vibrant dances, sacred ceremonies, ancestral homage, and community gatherings, it shapes the identity of the Kirat Rai people and enriches the cultural diversity of Nepal.

Its rising tourism potential positions it as a significant cultural event that can attract travelers seeking authentic indigenous experiences. As Nepal continues to highlight its diverse heritage, festivals like Sakela stand as powerful reminders of the country’s ancient civilizations, spiritual depth, and cultural resilience.

By embracing the festival with renewed appreciation, Nepal not only honors its indigenous legacy but also opens doors to sustainable cultural tourism, community empowerment, and global cultural exchange.