A religious festival of the Kirat Khambu Rai community, which involves Bhumi Puja, community dances, and other rituals to honor Mother Earth.
Honoring Mother Earth through Sakewa
Sakewa is a major religious festival of the Kirat Khambu Rai community, dedicated to honoring Mother Earth and expressing gratitude for her blessings. Central to the celebrations is Bhumi Puja, or Earth worship, which emphasizes respect for land, fertility, and agricultural prosperity. Observed annually, the festival reflects the community’s spiritual values and deep connection with nature, promoting ecological awareness, sustainable living, and harmony between humans and the environment.
Rituals, Dances, and Community Participation
The festival features vibrant community gatherings with traditional dances, folk music, and songs that narrate stories of ancestry, agriculture, and devotion. Participants, dressed in traditional attire, engage in collective rituals such as sowing seeds, offering food, and lighting ceremonial fires, symbolizing the cycle of life and abundance. These activities foster unity, cooperation, and a shared cultural identity, making Sakewa both a spiritually enriching and socially cohesive celebration.
Preserving Heritage and Promoting Awareness
Sakewa serves as a cultural anchor, preserving the Kirat Khambu Rai community’s traditions, rituals, and folklore. It provides younger generations an opportunity to learn ancestral practices, ethical values, and the spiritual significance of Earth worship, passing down knowledge of sustainable agriculture and communal responsibility. The festival also attracts tourists and scholars, promoting wider awareness of the community’s heritage. By celebrating reverence for nature and solidarity, Sakewa strengthens cultural identity, unity, and environmental consciousness in contemporary times.