Sama Chakeva
Sama Chakeva is 
a very popular festival in Nepal that originates in India. It is celebrated for ten days beginning on November 5th. This specific date is chosen for this festival because the Sama Chakeva celebration must be completed on the eleventh day of the full moon during the lunar calendar month of Kartik. Sama Chakeva is the festival of brothers and sisters.
The name of this festival is derived from an old story of one of the daughters of Krishna named Sama. Sama was set up by a wicked being who accused her of committing evil. Her father believedthe accusation and chose to punish his daughter by turning her into a bird. Not too long after, Sama’s brother, Chakeva, found 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 he was able to reverse the curse and help his beloved sister regain her humanity.
On the first day of Sama Chakeva,all the women come together at dusk with woven baskets of mud characters and a small flame. They take these baskets and dance and perform rituals with them. All the women join in unison and sing traditional Maithili songs. They then burn the small mud figures (which signify evil beings) to protect their brothers from all evil for the next year. They honour and celebrate their brothers and thank them for their protection. The days to come are filled with more dancing, singing, gift giving, and celebration. This holiday shows the tight bond that siblings have.
At the end of the festival, small moulded figures of birds that symbolize Sama and Chakeva are submerged in a pond to bring about the ending of the celebration.
Sama Chakeva is a happy and exciting holiday that 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.
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