Skip to content Skip to navigation

Sakela Udhwali in Margherita

By Mithun Baruah |

Sakela Udhawli, the harvest festival of Khambus was celebrated at Pawai Bongoan, Ketetong near Margheritha in Tinsukia on Monday. Organised by Kirat Rai Mahasabha and supported by Gorkha civil society organisations of the region, the festival began with offering prayers to ancestors and deity followed by Silli group dances.

Khambu youths performed rituals in presence of Mangpa and offered prayers to Paruhaang and Sumnima for well being of the society. Thousands of Khambus being nature worshippers assembled to celebrate the he Sakela which is celebration is a prayer to Mother Nature for healthy crops and protection from natural calamities.

Sakela Udhauli is celebrated in the monrth of Novermber and December suitably after a full moon day which is harvest season, as a part giving thanks to nature for providing them a good harvest.

The open session of the daylong celebration was presided by Siddhiman Thulung while Deo Kumar Rai addressed the Khambus as Key Note Speaker where he spoke at length about Kirat Khambu Rai culture and traditions. Abhijeet Khambu Rai elected General Secretary of Kirat Rai Mahasabha, Assam (KRM,A)  informed the gathering about the mission, vision and current focus of the organisation and its structure.

Convenor of the North East Kirat Rai Sanskritik Sansthan and Central Executive Member of All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU) Nanda Kirati Dewan graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and said,’The formation of Kirati Rai Mahasabha, Assam  and its maiden Sakela celebrations here is a testimony of amalgamation of Khambus in an organisation to research, study and follow  and most importantly preserve its culture and tradition. The celebrations today is proof of Kirati are indigenous and Sons of the Soil in Assam since time immemorial and deserving Scheduled Tribe of the country.’

‘Development and uplift of tribes like Khambu, Limbu, Tamang, Mangar, Gurung etc. will definitely strengthen the AAGSU ‘, Dewan added calling it Gorkha in Assam today is not just a tribe or caste but it is a composite society a community.

He further stressed that Khambus of Assam should join the national demands of inclusion Khambus of country in central Scheduled Tribe list under article 342 of the Indian Constitution.

Prem Sampang elected president of KRM,A , Former President of Assam Kirat Sammelan Pradip Limboo, Senior Advocate Rajesh Rai, Literaturer Shanta Bahadur Dewan, Sol Bahadur Loh  were some of the invited guests who spoke on the occasion. The cultural evening attraction was kid celebrity singer of the region Nandita Rai and dance performance by Sakela Silli Dance group lead by Rahul Lamsong Rai. Guest Artist s Parashmani Rai  of Zee Bangla famed Sa Re Ga Ma fame from Darjeeling performed in the evening.

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Poetry book released

28 Feb 2014 - 3:49pm | Rajen Barua
The book "পৃথিবীৰ কৱিতা" (Poetry of the World), edited and translated by Rajen Barua was released in USA on February 22, 2014 at a meeting of AALC (Assamese American Literary Circle) in Houston. The...

Teej festival at Haflong

24 Sep 2012 - 3:10am | Anup Biswas
The Gorkha Sports & Cultural Organisation, Dima Hasao, Haflong organized ‘Teej festival’ was celebrated here at Haflong Kalibari premises on Sunday with great enthusiasm and...

October Dimasa Heritage Rally may boost touring bikers

5 Oct 2017 - 4:59pm | Syed Miraz Ahmed
​​A land without ruins is a land without memories – a land without memories is a land without history: so wrote Reverend Abram Joseph Ryan, an American poet, popularly known as the Poet – Priest of...

Road mishap kill 2 in Kokrajhar

1 Dec 2021 - 8:03pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
KOKRAJHAR: Two people were killed on the spot in a late-night road accident in Balajan Pakriguri under Kokrajhar police station. According to police, two people were travelling on a bike and met...

Other Contents by Author

Ledo Girl shines in State Arm Wrestling Championship

Tapur Das (18) from Ledo, Margherita won the Gold medal in the junior category (63 kg) of the 2nd State Arm Wresting Championship held on March 31 to April 1 at Ban Theatre Auditorium in Tezpur. Pappu Saikia, team manager, said it was a proud moment for us where many of our students won medals at the 2nd state Arm Wresting Championship. Among the women's teams, Tapur Das was first, Dimpi Baruah was second, Anita Guwala was second and Gitali Moran was second.  Among the men's teams, Bhaskar Jyoti Saikia was second and Partho Pratim Baruah was third.  ​Pappu Saikia said everyone qualified could participate in the National Games which will be held at Goa from 18th...

PM, CM's effigies burnt protesting price rise

Margherita: The Satra Mukti Sangram Samity Margherita Regional Committee and the Tirap Jagun Regional Committee burned the effigies of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi and Chief Minister  Himanta Biswa Sarma at NH 315 Block Tiniali Margherita in protest against sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities  on Friday. Nipon Gogoi, president of Satra Mukti Sangram Samity Margherita regional committee; Pappu Dutta, working president of Satra Mukti Sangram Samity Tinsukia district committee; and Prasad Bhattacharjee, executive member of Satra Mukti Sangram Samity Margherita regional committee were present at the meeting, in which all...

Illegal liquor seized

Acting on the tip-off, Excise staff carried out an extensive search and raided where they found and seized illegal IFML from Makum Bagan Tiniali and Station Para areas in Margherita.  Two people were  arrested under 53(1)(a) of the Assam Excise Act, 2000 (Amended) and presented at the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate. They were identified as Dipak Kumar Sah, age 34, from Makum Bagan Tiniali, Margherita (Case No.MRG/Ex/2022/56), and Sashi Kanta Pandey, age 45, from Station Para, Margherita (Case No.MRG/Ex/2022/57). The excise team seized 27.24 liters of IMFL (for sale in Arunachal Pradesh Liquor), 3.25 BL Beer, 49 empty bottles and 57 bottle caps. Both Dipak Kumar...

AJYCP burns Pema Khandu's effigy

Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) Tinsukia district committee on Tuesday burnt the effigy of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu near AJYCP Tinsukia district committee office in protest against Graffiti Artist Nilim Mahanta's arrest by Arunachal Pradesh police from his residence at Lakhimpur on Sunday. Surojit Moran was the joint secretary of AJYCP Central committee. Hunmoni Chaliha was the president. Kanchan Borah was the General Secretary of AJYCP Tinsukia district committee. They were all present during the burning effigy and shouted various slogans against Chief minister Prema Khandu and BJP led Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Kanchan Borah mentioned that...

North Eastern Coalfields resumes operations

Coal mines in North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), a unit of Coal India Limited (CIL), resumed operations on Saturday. Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma  inaugurated the resumption of mining operations at Tikak Colliery of NEC at Margherita in Tinsukia District. The NEC's mining operations were halted in 2020 because of certain environmental issues. NEC presently operates at Tikak Colliery in Margherita with two opencast projects (OCPs) called Tikak OCP and Tikak Extension OCP with a combined coal production capacity of 4 lakh tonne per annum. Starting in the upcoming fiscal year 2022-23, the NEC will also...

Youth organization formed

The Samannoy Social Welfare Youth Organization Margherita Committee was formed on Thursday at the Margherita India Club where Hirokjyoti Neog, president, and Lakhi Kanta Borah, general secretary, were present at the meeting. The meeting was presided over by Lakhi Kanta Borah where Hirokjyoti Neog delivered the aims and objectives. Hirokjyoti Neog said in his speech that Sammanoy Social Welfare Youth Organization is a social, cultural, educational, environmental, health and sports organization whose goal is to eradicate social evils from our society. The Sammanoy social welfare youth organization Margherita committee was established with Sanjib Borah as president, Binod Das as...

Child labour at coke factories

When the Government is strict against child labour, it unfortunately happens at  Margherita, where at Coke Factories, Coal Thieves hire Child Labour to work with low wages. There are more than 50 coke factories at Ledo, Itakhola, Baragolai and Telkhaad Basti which pay a huge amount of royalty to the Assam Government. However the Tinsukia District Administration, Tinsukia District Superintendent of Police, District Labour Commissioner and Margherita Administration doesn't take any proper initiative to check and control child labour working at coke factories due to corruption. This is alleged by Ramanus Lakra, General Secretary of the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (...

Golden Pagoda inaugurated in Margherita

The two-day inauguration of the "Golden Pagoda" or "Stupa" in Buddhism, which is a holy place for Buddhist Community people all over the world, was completed on Sunday at Phaneng Buddha Vihar, Jagun Gaon Panchayat, Margherita. Kungmu Kham (Golden Pagoda) was inaugurated in memory of the Late Aai Kham Mown Chakhap, son of Chow Ngi Chaikyo Chakhap and Nang E Than Pomung Chakhap, a distinguished Tai Phakey family from the Margherita region. On the first day, the programme begins with the hoisting of the Buddhist flag by Gyanopal Mahathera, president of Assam Bouddha Mahasabha and head monk at Buddha Vihar, Naharkatiya. This was followed by Hap Poi Khamsum Thomtra, Tangthi on Kongmukham (...

Meditation Hall inaugurated at Margherita Buddha Vihar

Margherita Buddha Vihar's new meditation hall was inaugurated on Wednesday. Margherita Buddha Vihar head monk Bhikkhu Gyanowada Mahathera said that years ago he planned for a meditation hall at Margherita Buddha Vihar, and that dream was fulfilled on Wednesday after so many people had contributed for that noble work. On Wednesday, an inauguration ceremony was held at Margherita Buddha Vihar where more than 500 devotees of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh attended. The program began when Acharya Karuna Shastri hoisted the World Buddhist flag. This was followed by the inauguration of "Dhamma Sangini Meditation Hall" by Palash Rajkumar Ahom, ADC(i/c) Margherita. A free health camp was...

Panchakarma Therapy workshop starts at Margherita Civil Hospital

Panchakarma Therapy, one of the oldest therapies in India, is at Margherita Civil Hospital. The six-day Panchakarma Therapy training begins on Monday at Margherita Civil Hospital. One hundred BSc Nursing students from IOCL, OIL, and eight doctors from Baksa District of BTAD were present to learn Panchakarma Therapy at Margherita Civil Hospital. The meeting was held at Margherita Civil Hospital, where Dr. K. C. Das, Deputy Superintendent of Margherita Civil Hospital, presided. Prof. Sachindra Barman, Panchakarma Chief, delivered the goals and objectives of the meeting. In his inaugural speech, Dr Barman said that Panchakarma Therapy was first started in civil hospital at Margherita on...