Sakela dance competition held in Dharan to mark Udhauli

By Nisha Rai, Dharan, Dec 7: First ever linguistic Sakela Shili has been performed to mark Sakela Udhauli by the nature worshipper Kirat community here at Dharan Sub-metropolitan City.

The Kirat Rai Yayokhya Sunsari organised the dance competition also to mark Yalambar era 5085 as well as Udhauli (Chhirinam) 2082 here at Sakela Park in Dharan -17 with slogan ‘We the Kirat Rai community of 32 different languages, our rituals and culture are our pride.”

In the Shili exhibition/dance performance, some 10 Kirat Rais speaking different mother tongues such as Bantawa, Chhiling Bayung, Sampang, Puma Rai presented their dance as per their tradition and languages.

Udhauli Sakela is understood to have evolved from the worship of land the Kirat Rai do while harvesting food grains. Agricultural lifestyle is projected in Shili performance/dance.

Rajendra Rai, chairman of Kirat Rai Yayokhya, Sunsari, said that the competition was organised to help preserve the languages and culture of the Kirat as they mother tongues vary from each other depending on location.

In the Shili exhibition held on Saturday, Bayung Rai got the best award while in singing, the Chhiring Rai got the top prize.