Raebret Festival Tradition / Ritual in Seleim | World Anvil
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Raebret Festival

The Raebret Festival is a celebration associated with Tekel in which the mythological birth of the goddess Raesay and god Braet is reenacted through a congregation.    Half of those participating play the role of Coalate and half of Srirah, the two gods who engaged in a long battle early in the time of the world. During the first day of the festival, those playing each side will engage in traditional dances, each depicting a version of the fight from their patron's point of view. Dancers take turns expressing their interpretation of the events and then the other side works in rebuttal and adds their perspective. Women perform as Coalate and men as Srirah.    These are only the interpretations of the participants and not necessarily the official doctrine. However, Tekel priests often watch the dances as a way to better understand their gods, as they believe that each version is inspired directly by one of them and holds a small truth that can be used to piece together the greater whole.    Three members do not participate in the dances. These people represent Padka, the first deity, along with Raesay and Braet.    In the first half of the second day, the member taking the role of Raesay appears at the beginning of the dance and performs their own. The role is always taken by a woman as Raesay is depicted as female. She takes pieces of each dance and adds them to her own, becoming more and more wild in her steps.    After her dance is complete, the two sides return to their performance with her interjecting at specific points meant to represent each side's valid arguments. In the evening, the male performer depicting Braet dances, but his steps begin with a wild flurry before becoming calm, in an inverse of the Raesay performers, but also depicting the valid points of each.    At the beginning of the third and final day, only the Braet and Raesay performers dance, far apart until slowly coming together. Finally, at the the height of the festival, the Padka performer, the only character who can be played by a male or female, steps in and brings them both together, ending the battle and bringing the newly formed gods into heaven with the rest.    Both the Coalate and Srirah sides embrace and a feast is held to celebrate the end of the fighting.

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