Udhauli Parva is one of the biggest festivals of Kirat communities. It is also called the Festival of Sakala. This festival marks the onset of the winter season.
There is a history of people migrating from high altitude to the lower level because of the extreme cold in the higher altitudes at this time. Since then, the Udhauli Parva in Nepal is celebrated, indicating the seasonal transitions.
Besides Dashain, tihar and Chhat festivals, this festival also has great importance in Nepal. Scroll down for the interesting facts, history, rituals, importance, etc of the Udhauli Festival.
When is Udhauli Parva going to be celebrated in 2025?
Udhauli Parva 2025 is going to be celebrated on December 5. According to the Nepali calendar, the festival falls on the full moon day of Mangsir. In short, the Udhauli parva in Nepali date is Mangsir 19, 2082.
Udhauli parva History
Udhauli festival history can be traced back to the Kirat Mythology. There is a popular story related to the festival.
According to the legend, the sun god Paruhang fell in love with the earth goddess Sumnima and proposed to her with a beautiful comb. Sumnima finally accepted. Their union symbolized the connection between heaven and earth.
However, the sun god Paruhang vanished for the meditation in the Himalayas, leaving the earth goddess Sumnima all alone. At that time, Sumnima went on a journey to find food and strength and discovered a magical creeper that granted her power.
After Paruhang returned from the meditation, he apologized to the sumnima and promised never to leave again. Sumnima accepted his apology and danced joyfully.
The same dance is inherited and is called the Sakela dance. The sakela dance is performed during the festival.
Cultural Importance of Udhauli Parva
There is great importance of ubhauli parva in Nepali society. It symbolizes the relationship between nature and kirat people. During the festival, the people celebrate the harvest and express gratitude to Mother Earth for her bounty.
The festival features the popular sakela dance that serves as a means of honoring nature and reinforcing cultural identity among participants. This dance is a true reflection of ancestry traditions and showcases the connection to their environment.
Furthermore, this festival gives the platform for cultural expression. Kirat subgroup members come together to celebrate their shared heritage. This festival gathering promotes the brotherhood and fosters a sense of unity within the community.
Social importance of Udhauli Festival
Udhauli Parva is a social festival. It plays an important role in promoting social bonding among the Kirat community. Families reunite to celebrate this festival, just like the dashain festival in nepal.
This festival creates an opportunity for family interaction and strengthens the ties. Different age groups can participate in this festival.
Also, by bringing all the society people together, the Udhauli festival helps alleviate social tensions and fosters understanding among diverse groups within the Kirat society.
The Kirat Community and Their Tradition
The Kirat community is one of the oldest ethnic groups in Nepal. They can be located in the eastern regions of Nepal, including districts such as Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Dhankuta, and Sunsari.
The tradition of celebrating the festival is inherited from their ancestral practices. Udhauli celebrations also honor their ancestors way of living and their cultures that foster community bonding.
The role of the Udhauli Parva in Kirat culture is huge. It plays an important role in gratitudeing nature, seasonal transition, community bonding, and so on. This Kirat festival in Nepal highlights Kirat people’s relationship with nature.
Rituals and Celebrations of the Udhauli Festival
There are various rituals associated with the Udhauli festival in Nepal. The key rituals are described below.
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Cleaning and decorating homes
The first ritual of this kirati festival is cleaning the homes and surroundings. This is the first step of preparation for welcoming prosperity. This ritual is similar to the rituals of the tihar festival celebration in nepal.
After cleaning, the people decorate their spaces with colorful patterns made from colored powders called rangolis and oil lamps (Diyas). This ritual is performed to invite good fortune into their homes.
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Offerings to Nature and Harvest Gods
In this ritual, people make offerings of rice, grains, fruits, and vegetables to deities associated with agriculture. These offerings are made with prayers.
It is done to express gratitude to the deities for their blessings, health, prosperity, and successful harvest.
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Performing Pujas (Prayer Ceremonies)
This is the main part of the festival. It is conducted at home or in community spaces. During these ceremonies, families honor their ancestors and seek blessings for protection during the winter.
Some families may also perform the animal sacrifices (mostly chickens) as part of their rituals.
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Fasting and Abstinence
In some households, women begin the festival with fasting. It is done as a form of spiritual cleansing. During the fasting, the women avoid impure foods and substances.
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The Migration of Birds Ritual (Symbolic)
The festival is also linked to the migration of birds. So, as a part of rituals, some communities release pigeons during the rituals. It is done to represent bird’s transition from higher altitudes to warmer regions as winter approaches.
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Folk Dances and Songs
After the rituals and ceremonies, it’s time for celebrations. People lit the born fires with wood. And then they perform the traditional dance called the Sakela Naach around the bonfire.
During the celebrational dance, the participants wear colorful ethnic attire such as chhit ko guneu for women and Daura Suruwal for men. They engage in the lively dances accompanied by traditional music played on instruments like drums (dhol) and flutes.
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Community Feasts
A community feast is an important part of the festival. A communal feast features traditional dishes like Dhunge Khule (a dish made with millet), rice, meat, and sweets like jaggery treats. All the dishes are prepared from freshly harvested ingredients.
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Final Prayers and Closing Rituals
After all the celebrations and rituals of the Udhauli festival, participants offer the final prayers at the local temple. This concluding ritual is done to seek protection for their community throughout the winter.
Udhauli Parva Across Nepal
Udhauli parva is most prominently celebrated in eastern Nepal. You can see the celebrations taking place throughout the country wherever Kirat communities reside.
Major gatherings takes place in the public spaces like Tudikhel in Kathmandu and various districts such as Ilam, Panchthar, and Tehrathum. The regional celebrations sees large gatherings in the areas like Khotang, Bhojpur, Dharan, and Dhankuta too.
This Nepali festival celebrations showcases cultural heritage and gives a platform for social harmony among diverse ethnic groups within Nepal. Nowadays, people are focusing more on the communal gatherings rather than the elaborated rituals.
Tips for the tourists attending Udhauli
- Respect local cultures and traditions
- Understand the festival celebrations and activities associated with it.
- Expect a variety of cultural performances, including the Sakela dance.
- Engage with local customs by observing rituals and participating in dances if invited.
- Dress appropriately. Wearing traditional attire can enhance your experience.
- Always ask for permission before taking photos of individuals or sacred rituals.
- Plan your travel and pack warm clothes for the colder temperatures.
- Purchase handmade crafts or food items from local vendors to support the community.
Combining festivals with trekking
Combining Udhauli festival 2025 participations with adventurous activities like trekking and hiking is a unique idea. You can experience the rich cultural heritage of the Kirat communities while enjoying the stunning natural landscapes.
You can plan your trekking during the Udhauli festivals in the popular trekking regions like annapurna region, everest region, and langtang region. You can experience the unique blend of culture and nature during the trek.
Some of the popular treks you can plan include ghorepani poonhill trek, the langtang valley trek, the mardi himal trek, the upper Dolpo Trek, and the pikey peak trek. These are the places where you can engage in the trekking long with the festival celebrations.
Faqs
1. What is Udhauli Parva?
Udhauli Parva is one of the Indigenous festivals of Nepal, celebrated by ethnic groups such as the Rai, Limbu, Yakkha, and Sunuwar. The term “Udhauli” means “downwards" in English. It signals the seasonal migration of people, animals, and birds from the higher altitudes to the lower altitudes as winter approaches.
2. What is the difference between Udhauli and Ubhauli?
Both Udhauli and Ubhauli festivals are popular festivals celebrated in Nepal. The only difference is that the festival in Nepal, Udhauli, celebrates the end of the harvest season. While Ubhauli marks the arrival of the new season for the Kirat Community.
3. Is Yomari Punhi on the same date as Udhauli Parva?
Yes, the Yomari punhi is on the same date as the Udhauli parva, on dec 5, 2025. Yomari Punhi is a popular festival celebrated by the Newar community of Nepal to celebrate the rice harvest and the full moon.
Conclusion
The Udhauli festival in Nepal is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the Kirat community. The festival marks the onset of winter and symbolizes seasonal transitions. In 2025, Udhauli Parva will be celebrated on December 5 (Mangsir 19, 2082 in Nepali date).
It is a significant Kirat festival in Nepal, promoting cultural unity, gratitude for nature, and community bonding. Udhauli is one of the major Indigenous festivals of Nepal, celebrated with joy and fervor, similar to other Nepali festivals like Dashain and Tihar.
Happy Udhauli Parva 2025!
