The Kirati people used to perform worship at Sakela shrines by sacrificing cows and oxen.

 

**Kirati People and Their Mundum Culture**  

According to Kirati Mundum traditions, during festivals like **Udhauli-Ubhauli**, **Sakela Puja**, and **Pitri Tinchula Suptulung Puja**, the Kirati people used to offer the meat of cows and oxen as sacrifices. The Kirati period is the most ancient and well-documented era in Nepal's history. From the first Kirati king, **Yalambar Hang**, to the 32nd king, **Gasti**, the Kirati dynasty ruled the Kathmandu Valley, then known as **Yalakhom**, under a unified kingdom.  

The Kirati people worshipped at **Sakela Thaan** (sacred sites) by offering cows and oxen.  

**Kirati Civilization and Traditions**  

Since ancient times, the Kirati civilization has been deeply rooted in **Mundum**, the indigenous spiritual and cultural practices of the Kirati people. They have preserved their original customs and traditions, which are based on their Mundum beliefs.  

- **Nature Worship: ** The Kirati people worship nature, recognizing its sacredness and importance in their lives.  

- **Ancestor Worship: ** They honor and worship their ancestors, maintaining a deep connection with their lineage.  

- **Shamanism and Animism: ** Kiratis believe in ancestral spirits and the invisible Mundum world, practicing shamanism and animism as integral parts of their spiritual life.  

 **Kirati Culture and Mundum Traditions**  

The Kirati people's belief system can be likened to the concept of "omnipresent energy" in the language of quantum physics, a cornerstone of modern science. From birth to death, the Kirati people follow their Mundum-based rituals and traditions, deeply rooted in the worship of their ancestors, particularly Sumnima and Paruhang.  

During festivals like Udhauli-Ubhauli, Sakela Puja, and ancestral worship (Pitri Puja), the Kirati people offer sacrifices such as **Pitmasa**, **Fopisa**, **Boyongsa**, **Dibungsa**, and **Haddisa** (meat of cows and oxen). These practices reflect their rich cultural heritage and connection to their ancestors.  

**Ancestral Worship and Suptulung**  

The Kirati people worship the **Suptulung** (three hearthstones) as symbols of their ancestors. These three hearthstones—**Papalung**, **Mamalung**, and **Rumilung**—are revered as representations of their forefathers. During ancestral worship, offerings such as **Pisa**, **Pitmasa**, **Boyongsa**, **Dibungsa**, and **Langsa** (meat of cows and oxen), **Khusasa** (deer meat), **Ngacha** (fish), and other symbolic items are made.  

**Ritual Practices and Symbolism**  

The Kirati people perform rituals at Sakela shrines, using various symbolic items such as:  

- **Ngaksiko Pat** or **Bharlako Pat** (leaves of specific plants)  

- **Wabuk** (ritual objects)  

- **Fenkua**, **Popkhaima**, **Lemkhaima**, **Arawa**, **Bechuk**, **Papaladam**, **Yakhaimadam**, **Ummak**, **Hengmawa**, **Sampicha**, **Bopkha**, **Samkha**, **Kok**, **Wa (Wapa-Wama)**, **Chibung-Chalim**, **Bechuk**, and **Wabuk**.  

These items are integral to their Mundum rituals, reflecting their deep spiritual connection to nature, ancestors, and the unseen world.  

 **Historical and Cultural Encroachment on the Kirati People**  

Since ancient times, the Kirati people have faced continuous geographical, cultural, linguistic, and religious encroachment by Hindu Aryans, Lichchavis, Mallas, and Shah rulers. The geographical unification and expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom by Prithvi Narayan Shah from 1825 BS to 1831 BS further threatened the language, traditions, culture, history, and existence of the Kirati people.  

During festivals like Sakela Puja and ancestral worship (Pitri Puja), the Kirati people traditionally offered the heads of cows and oxen, along with other sacrifices such as **Pisa**, **Pitmasa**, **Boyongsa**, **Dibungsa**, **Haddisa**, and **Langsa**. However, in 1910 BS, based on the Hindu Manusmriti, the Rana regime introduced the Muluki Ain (Civil Code), which prohibited the Kirati people from slaughtering cows and oxen.  

Despite this ban, the Kirati people continued their traditions by paying an extra tax (known as **Mekchen**) to sacrifice cows and oxen during Sakela Puja. They would offer the heads of cows and oxen at Sakela shrines to celebrate the festival. However, in 2008 BS, King Tribhuvan's interim constitution removed the provision allowing Kirati people to pay tax for slaughtering cows and oxen, imposing a complete ban on the practice.  

**Kirati Resistance and Cultural Preservation**  

The Kirati people have historically resisted these impositions, striving to preserve their cultural and religious practices. Despite the bans, they continued to worship at Sakela shrines, offering sacrifices as part of their ancestral traditions.  

 **The Impact of Hindu Manusmriti and Rana-Era Muluki Ain on Kirati Culture**  

Based on the Hindu Manusmriti, the Rana-era Muluki Ain (Civil Code) of 1910 BS was reintroduced by King Mahendra Shah in 2020 BS as the new Mahendra-era Hindu Civil Code of Nepal. This law completely prohibited the Kirati people from slaughtering cows and oxen during their Mundum-based rituals, such as Sakela Puja and ancestral worship (Pitri Puja). Strict penalties, including imprisonment, were imposed, forcing the Kirati people to abandon their traditional practice of sacrificing cows and oxen.  

**Changes in Ritual Practices**  

Following this ban, the Kirati people began substituting the traditional offerings of **Pisa**, **Pitmasa**, **Boyongsa**, **Dibungsa**, **Haddisa**, and **Langsa** (cow and ox meat) with other alternatives. For example:  

- They used buffalo meat as a substitute.  

- However, during Mundum rituals, they would still claim to offer cow or ox meat (Pitmasa) to their ancestors, while secretly using chicken.  

**Historical Context**  

Before the Muluki Ain of 1910 BS, the Kirati people would offer the heads of oxen during Sakela Puja. Even after the law was enacted, they continued the practice by paying an extra tax (Mekchen). However, after King Tribhuvan's interim constitution of 2008 BS removed the provision allowing Kirati people to pay tax for slaughtering cows and oxen, the state imposed a complete ban on the practice.