Sakewa is one festival which is celebrate with great enthusiasm by all the Kirat Khambu Rai. It is also known as Bhoomi Puja or Chandi Puja or land worshipping ceremony by others. It is generally celebrated by all the Kirat Khambu Rai especially in villages. They are basically nature worshippers and during the festival prayers are offered to the natural supreme power. The creator of the universe for peace, protection and well being of all living and non-living things of the universe. Thus Sakewa festival is also celebrated with Sakewa Silli or ceremonial daces which have their own significance and unique charm. Dances in different postures depicting the behavior of animals, birds etc are performed to express gratitude to the creator. Of the various Silis, Chasum Sili is very popular. It is danced by depicting the actions of planting of paddy, harvesting, husking, cooking and finally eating the cooked rice.

Sakewa has gained a strong foothold at Namchi where it is celebrated every year with great pomp and show. It has also aroused great interest among the tourist visiting Sikkim. It signifies the occasion of full moon of Baisaskh i.e. May-June. At Namchi, Sakewa is celebrated in the form of a tourist festival which begins with the Shakti Puja at Mangkhim performed by a Mangpa (chief priest) and his assistant followed by the Shova Yatra (exhinbition rally) all round the bazaar and finally the cultural performance. Various traditional dishes like Wachipa (rice cooked with burnt feather and meat of chicken), Bungchipa (rice cooked with a typical herb giving the taste of Wachipa), Arakha-Hengmawa (local wines made from millet and maize), Baksa (roasted pork) and Okrukma (bread made of beaten rice) etc are served to guests. Old traditional tools and antiques are put on display along with the related literature works and books.

 

Comment