The Kirat community marked the Udhauli festival on the full moon day of the month of Mangsir [mid-November to mid-December] on Thursday, observing the occasion as a tribute to their ancestors and nature.

The Yakkha community called the festival Chasuwa, the Sunuwar observed it as Folsyadar, the Rai marked it as Udhauli Sakewa, and the Limbu community celebrated it as Chasok Tangnam. The Limbu group had begun the three-day Chasok Tangnam celebrations earlier this week.

Although different communities use different names, today was the main day when all Kirat groups collectively observed Udhauli Sakewa. Kirti Kumar Dumi Rai, a researcher on Kirat culture, said the festival is known broadly as Udhauli despite variations in nomenclature among groups within the Kirat community.

The festival is held after the harvest, when the community offers the season’s crops to their deities, seeks permission to consume the produce and remembers their ancestors. During the planting season, Kirat communities observe Ubhauli.

From early morning, Kirat men and women dressed in traditional attire headed to celebration sites, dancing to the rhythm of the chyabrung drum and performing the Dhan Nach as part of the rituals. While the customs are similar, communities refer to the festival in their own languages.

Lalitpur’s Sano Hattiban is regarded as a historic Kirat religious site, and the people staying in Kathmandu Valley celebrated the festival there with special significance today.