Kirant community marking Ubhauli Parva

Kathmandu, May 1: Ubhauli Parva, the most important festival of the Kirant community, is being marked today with joy and fervor, and by offering worship to the Bhumesthan (the god of land). This festival is mostly celebrated in the districts of the Koshi Province and Kathmandu in the country.

Ubhauli festival is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the month of Baishakh in the Lunar calendar, which also coincides with Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Buddha. 

During the festival, the Kiranti folks gather together to celebrate the festival in an organised manner and exchange good wishes.

According to the religious book Mundhum of the Kirants, time is divided into two parts, Udhauli and Ubhauli. The Kirant community believes that these two periods are divided on the basis of farming. Ubhauli is a festival celebrated to mark the beginning of farming. The festival is celebrated for good harvest, peace and prosperity in the community.

Kirati community, known to be devoted to nature, celebrate Ubhauli by worshipping the land and performing their traditional dance called Sakela.

The Kirant Rai Yayokhha has prepared for worship at Sakelasthan at Hatiban of Lalitpur.  

Likewise, the people in Yeselukharka in Khotang district have decided to mark this festival only on Jestha 22 as per their longstanding tradition to mark this festival on that day. (RSS)