Festivals
Sakela, Nwagi, Yele, and all the festivals celebrated by Rai communities across Nepal, India, and Bhutan.
Yele (Yelle)
Yele is a spring festival celebrated by the Rai people. It is a time of joy, celebration, and cultural expression. The festival features traditional music, dance, and community gatherings. Yele marks the end of the spring planting season and is a time of thanksgiving.
Udhauli Parba
Udhauli is a significant festival for the Kirat people, especially the Limbu and other Eastern Kirat groups. It marks the migration of people from higher elevations to lower valleys for the winter. The festival involves prayers, dances, and community gatherings.
Sakela (Sakewa) (साकेला)
Sakela is the most important festival of the Rai/Kirati people. It's a celebration of nature, agriculture, and community. The festival is observed twice a year — Sakela Ubhauli marks the beginning of the farming season in spring (Baisakh Purnima), and Sakela Udhauli marks the harvest season in autumn (Mangsir Purnima). During Sakela, people perform the Sakela Sili dance in a circle, pray to Mother Nature for good crops, and strengthen community bonds.
Nwagi (Nwagi Parba) (न्वागी)
Nwagi is a winter festival celebrated by the Rai people, particularly in the eastern regions. It's a time for family gatherings, ancestral worship, and community bonding during the cold winter months. The festival involves prayers to ancestors, traditional dances, and communal feasts.
Chasama
Chasama is a traditional Rai ceremony that marks important life events and transitions. It's often performed during weddings, births, and other significant occasions. The ceremony involves rituals led by a Nakshatra (priest) and includes offerings to deities and ancestors.
Bhuniti Parba
Bhuniti is a spring festival celebrated by the Rai community, marking the beginning of the new agricultural cycle. It involves community prayers, traditional dances, and celebrations of nature's renewal.
Rai Festival Photo Gallery
Photos from Sakela, Nwagi, Yele, and other Rai festival celebrations
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