Kirati Rai Dance in Siliguri " Deokota " || Pratik Vlogs ||

Rai is one of the important ethnic groups of Kirati people. Rais are also well known as Gurkha army in Indian and British Army. Their bravery has made them famous around the world. Rais are also known as honest people with a great courage.
Sakela is the gathering of Rai people for the celebration of Udhauli and Ubhauli. Sakela is actually affiliated with Chamling people of Kirati Rai community. Since the identity of different groups of Rai are at depleting, many Rai are taking Sakela as the main festival of Rai.The history of the Rais goes back into the distant past. Traditionally they were farmers and hunters—their lives intricately woven into the land they inhabit and the changing seasons. This intimate relationship is reflected in the forms of worship that evolved among them. According to the Kirat Mundhum (a scripture), a year is divided into two phases—Ubhauli (going up) and Udhauli (going down), coinciding with the migration pattern of birds. During the start of the winter season in Mangsir, the birds migrate southward and thus, this time of the year is known as Udhauli. During the beginning of the summer season, the birds migrate towards cooler hilly region, and it is known as Ubhauli. In Sikkim, they differentiate between the two celebrations, the first being Sakewa and the second Sakela. Rais from other regions use the term Sakela to mean both.The celebration of Sakela is connected to many myths—one of them is related to Kirat mythology of Sumnima and Paruhang, the guardian deities of the Rais. The story goes that Paruhang used to live in the heavens. One day, he saw the lovely Sumnima on earth and fell in love with her. He made her a beautiful comb and sent it to her. She too fell in love with Paruhang and they married.

They had four children. After some years Paruhang left Sumnima in a hut on the banks of the Dudhkoshi river and was not to be heard for many years. One day, Sumnima found a creeper growing on a rock while she was searching for food for her children. She tasted the creeper and found it was full of power and happiness. She took the creeper and made a charm or buti. The buti made anyone who saw it speak the truth. Suddenly, one-day Paruhang returned. He tried to pacify the angry Sumnima. She then gave him the buti. This immediately made him happy and he told her about his adventures. He had spent the time looking at heaven and earth from the Chomolongma (Mt. Everest). He had meditated for many years and also 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. Young boys and girls come to participate in Sakela in order to find love.The two most important festivals among the Rais are Sakewa or Ubhauli and Sakela or Udhauli. Sakewa is a nine-day-long festival that begins on the full moon of the Hindu month of Baisakh which falls between April and May. Celebrated as a homage to Mother Earth, during Sakewa, a bhumi puja is performed, which is followed by ritual offerings to Kubera, the Hindu god of food and wealth. The celebrations mark the beginning of the new farming year and begin on a big ground or a hilltop with the mangpa or mangma presiding over the rituals. After these celebrations, people return to their homes and perform rites for their forefathers, offering food grains, millets and ginger to a fire in the hearth...