The Samachakewa festival has begun in the Mithila region, including Mahottari.
This festival, dedicated to brothers, is observed by the women of Mithila (Mithilani) and started on Monday night.
It begins on the second day of the Chhath festival, or the fifth day of Kattik Shukla (the bright fortnight) in the month of Kartik, and is observed for 11 days, concluding on Purnima (the full moon day of Kartik).
During the festival, Mithila women from the same community gather at night to sing songs praising the bravery, benevolence, dedication, and love of their brothers. In the local language, the festival is called Samakhel.
The festival begins on the day of Kharana during Chhath, the major festival of the region. The women create clay figures of Sama and Chakewa (mythical characters from the Dwapara Yuga), Brindavan (forest), Saptarshi (seven revered sages in the Hindu mythology), birds, and Chugala (the gossip messenger).
They decorate these figures with vibrant colours and sing songs while interacting symbolically with the characters. Oil lamps are lit in a dala (a traditional wicker basket), and through songs, the women describe the qualities of each figure, highlighting the philanthropic and brave deeds of their brothers. These songs express pride and admiration for their brothers’ courage, social contributions and good deeds.
The Chugala character, regarded as the gossipmonger, is symbolically punished during the festival by singing his beard with a small flame from a broom.
In songs, the character is scolded and blamed for mischief and misdeeds. On the final day, Purnima, it is customary for brothers to place all the clay figures on their knees and break them. The broken figures are then disposed of in the deserted forests. After this, brothers offer their sisters beaten rice made from newly harvested paddy and Sakkhar (molasse). In return, sisters serve their brothers delicacies, and the brothers give their sisters clothes, jewelry, and cash (dakshina), marking the conclusion of the festival.
The Samachakewa festival is rooted in a legendary story from the Dwapara Yuga about Sama, the daughter of Lord Krishna, and her beloved, the army commander Chakradhar (Chakewa). According to the myth, the Chugala reported it to Krishna which angered him. Krishna cursed both Sama and Chakewa, turning them into birds.
To free them, Krishna’s son Samba performed penance to Lord Shiva and blessed with a boon allowing him to appease Krishna. As a result, Sama and Chakewa were freed from the curse, returned to human form, and married.
In gratitude for her brother Samba’s help, Sama sang songs praising him. In remembrance of this, the tradition of the Sama-Chakewa festival was established. Hemnarayan Lal Karn, principal of Yajnavalkya Lakshminarayan Vidyapeeth (Sanskrit Campus) in Matihani, explains that this is the origin of the festival’s customs.
