KATHMANDU: The Ubhauli festival, celebrated annually by the Kirat Rai community on the day of Baishakh Shukla Purnima, is being observed across the country today with traditional nature worship.
The festival marks a time when communities perform nature worship before the planting season, praying for a good harvest and prosperity. The term ‘Ubhauli’ is associated with the seasonal movement of people from lower regions to higher altitudes as temperatures rise.
According to Kirat beliefs, this period also signifies the upward migration of birds, wild animals, and even fish seeking cooler environments. Similarly, people who had moved to lower areas during winter begin returning to higher regions around this time.
Ubhauli is also linked with agricultural symbolism, where “Ubho” implies growth, abundance, and prosperity in farming. Cultural performances such as the Chandi dance are an integral part of the celebration, which is why the full moon day of Baisakh is also known as Chandi Purnima.
The Sakela dance, another important cultural expression of the Kirat Rai community, is also performed during the festival. In the Kathmandu Valley, preparations have been made to gather at Sakelasthan in Hattiban, Lalitpur, to carry out rituals.
Together, the festival reflect the deep cultural and ecological traditions of the Kirat Rai community.
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