Kanchan Sah,
Janakpurdham : Sama Chakeba is a very popular festival in Nepal that originates in India. It is a festival of brothers and sisters. It is a festival of wishing longevity, health and prosperity of brothers bysisters. Thisisa festival celebratedfrom the second day of Kartik full moon. On the first day of this festival, the sisters startthe work for making clay shapes for the Sama and Chakebafestival and intensity the characters from the kharna or paran of chhath festival.

Young, mostly unmarried girls assemble near the ghats of chhath with a basket containing small idols of Sama, Chakeba, Chugla, Candles, Kohl,Vrindaban,clay made daily use appliances etc. At night, they sing traditionalsongs, performsome rituals as everyone sit in circles, they move their one another basket round and round and sisters enjoy the conversation by moving the idol. She sets fire to Vrindavan and she burns Chugla’s mouth with fire.

This festival is celebrated for 9 days. Asduring the winter season,the colourful birds from the Himalyas migrate towards the plains. The name of this festival is derived from an old storyof one of the daughters of Lord Krishna named Sama. Sama was set up by a wicked beingwho accused her of committing evil. Herfather believed the accusation and chose to punish his daughter by turning her into a bird. Not too long after, Sama’s brother, Chakebafound out about the evil done to his sister and he came to rescue her. By his great dedication, sacrifice and deep love for his sister hewas able to reverse the curse and helped hisbeloved sister regain her humanity.

All the 9 days, sisters celebrated this festival with joy and happiness by singing, dancing, as folk songs like “ डालालेबहारभेली, बहिनीसेपलॉबहिनोफलॉभइयालेलडालाछिन, सुनुगैरामसजनी..”, “ सिरीरेजनकपुरसँआबिगेलभमरालागिगेलपालनादुकान…”The song of Sama Chakeba’s immersion is touching.

At the last day of Sama Chakeba’s festival, sisters get some idols made of clay broken by their brothers on theirjoints.Brothers give gifts to their sisters in return. More singing and dancing are done there. Sisters decorate their baskets with lights and worship Sama Chakeva near the pond and submerged the basket in the pond to bring about the ending of the celebration.

Sama Chakeba is a happy and exciting festivalthat is looked forward to with anticipation. Every year each sibling’s loyalty to the other is reinforced and worshipped. This festival reminds all who witness it of the deep loyalty of family that is so present in India and Nepal.

Kanchan Sah
B.B.A. 1st Year/1st Semester, University Campus, Rajarshi Janak University, Janakpurdham