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Kirat Mundhum, (Nepali language: किरात मुन्धुम) also known as Kiratism, or Kirati Mundhum, is a traditional belief of the Kirati people ethnic groups of Nepal, Darjeeling and Sikkim, majorly practiced by Yakkha people, Sunuwar people, Rai people, Dhimal and Hayu people peoples in the north-eastern Indian subcontinent. The practice is also known as Kirat Veda,p. 56 Kiratese at a Glance By Gopal Man Tandukarp. xxv A Grammar of Limbu By Geordefine sungge van Driem Kirat-Ko Veda Problems of Modern Indian Literature by Statistical Pub. Society: distributor, K. P. Bagchi or Kirat Ko Ved.p. 323 Kiratas in Ancient India By G. P. Singh, Dhaneswar Kalita, V Sudarsen, M A Kalam According to some scholars, such as Tom Woodhatch, it is a blend of shamanism, animism (e.g., ancestor worship of Yuma Sammang/Tagera Ningwaphumang and Paruhang/Sumnima),"History and Culture of the Kirat" by I.S.Chemjong and Shaivism.p. 535 Nepal By Tom Woodhatch It is practiced by about 3.17% of the Nepali population as of 2021.
The religious texts for each tribe consists of customs, habits, rituals, traditions, and myths passed down from the Kirati tribe's ancestors. Religious texts serve, in a way, as customary laws which guide Kirats in their daily lives.p. 65 Culture, Creation, and Procreation By Monika Böck, Aparna Rao Their religious texts also distinguishes each Kiranti tribe from other Kirati and non-Kiratis as well.
Sakela is the main festival of Kirat Rai people. In this festival, they worship mother nature and their ancestors, who are believed to be staying in their Chulla. A Chulla is a fireplace of three stones in the garden, with each stone having a unique meaning. This festival is celebrated twice a year and is distinguished by two names Ubhauli and Udhauli. Sakela Ubhauli is celebrated during Baisakh Purnima (full moon day, which lies in the month of Baisakh in calendars of the Indian subcontinent) and Sakela. Udhauli is celebrated during the full moon day in the month of Mangsir. In Ubhauli they pray for the goodness of their family, good weather for cultivation; in Udhauli they thank mother nature and their ancestors for their blessings and good harvest.
Newars Celebrate Yenna, and Indra Jatra and other festivals of the Valley, relating to Yalamaber, Yela, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Valley.
In both Ubhauli and Udhauli, they sacrifice a rooster and offer ginger, rice, homemade alcohol, and tree resin (resin is put in the burning coal for fragrance) as worship, they also conduct a Sakela dance. In this dance, they perform all of their daily life activities such as planting rice, harvesting etc. During the dance the will also copy the behavior of animals and birds which are part of their day-to-day life. The Limbu Kirant celebrates Udhauli Chasok Tangnam on the day of Mangshir Purnima and Ubhauli (Yokwa Tongnam) in the month of Baisakh. Other Kirants (Yakkha and Sunuwars) also celebrate in their own way.
Sakela Sili is observed twice a year in the month of Baisakh Purnima and Mangsir Purnima, namely Ubhauli (going up) and Udhauli (coming down), indicating the migration pattern of the birds named Karyangkurung respectively. A Nakchhong performs the sacrificial offering, chula puja and other rituals in the Sakela Than. The dance is then led by a Silimappa and Silimamma and the Kirat community people come together in their traditional attire to form a circle and sing and dance together to the beats and rhythms of drums (Dhol) and cymbals (Jhyamta) enacting their daily life activities as well as mimicking different animals and birds. The sili or the dance moves reflect different aspects of human life and their relationship with nature.
Kiratis worship nature; therefore, Sakela Puja also known as Bhumi Puja is a prayer to Mother Nature. During Ubhauli, Kiratis worship Mother Nature for good crops and protection from natural calamities during the time of cultivation and farming. Likewise, Kiratis offer their gratitude and thanks to Mother Nature during Udhauli (harvesting time) for bestowing them with good crops. p. 108 Politics of Culture: A study of three Kirata communities in the Eastern Himalayas by T.B. Subba
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