Sama-Chakeva festival begins

Mahottari / Nov 5: Sama-Chakeva, the ten-days of festivity, has begun amongst the Maithali communities from today.

In the festival that celebrates brother-sister relationship, womenfolk submerge the clay idols of Sama-Chakeva in the pond or river or in the recently-ploughed land, preferably in the woods, on the eleventh day of full moon to mark the end of the festival.

On the first day of the festivity, the womenfolk, singing various folklores, collect clay and make the idols of Sama-Chekheva. The clay idol is decorated with various colors.

Carrying the same idols in the bamboo baskets, they sing and dance across roundabouts, thoroughfares, public spaces and temples for ten days. While observing the rituals, they also wish for the long and healthy life of their brothers.

The married women visit their natal home for the celebration whiles those having no brothers, they observe the festivity with the brothers folk in their locality.

Celebrated in various districts across Terai such as Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha, Dhanusha, Saptari and Parsa, the festival is also observed with verve in many bordering towns in India. In Mithilanchal, it usually begins a day before the Chhat festival. RSS