Gai Jatra

Gai Jatra(cow festival) is celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley to commemorate the death of loved ones. As part of the festival family members of the deceased of the past year send people mostly children. dressed as cows to parade on the streets. This is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal as it is full of humor, satire, comedy, mockery, and shades of sadness too at the same time. And on this day satire and jokes on anybody is legal.

Gai Jatra is a time to remember lost ones and also to ease the pain. The word “Gai” means cow in English. The cow is regarded as the goddess of wealth in the Hindu religion. Sharing of sorrow and taking the comfort in knowing that their lost ones are safe is the true reason for celebrating this festival. The day is also marked with a gay parade along with many people dressed in weird clothes. In Bhaktapur, the festival lasts for eight days.

The origin of this celebration goes back to the reign of the Malla rulers. It is said that the Malla Queen was in mourning for a long time after the untimely death of her son. The king in an attempt to console her asked every family that lost a loved one to come out in a procession to show the queen that she was not alone with her suffering. This is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal as it is full of humor, satire, comedy, mockery, and shades of sadness too at the same time. And on this day satire and jokes on anybody is legal.