Kathmandu. Gai Jatra, which falls on Pratipada, the first day of the dark fortnight, was celebrated today in Kathmandu despite persistent rainfall since last night.
The wet weather did not dampen the spirits of those participating in this traditional festival, especially within the Newar community. Gai Jatra is observed to commemorate the deceased. During the festival, families who have lost loved ones in the past year lead a cow through the streets, symbolizing a guide for the departed soul on its journey to the afterlife.
In cases where a family does not have a cow, a child is dressed as one to fulfill the ritual. Children, dressed in various costumes and face masks, parade through the streets as part of the celebration. The family of the deceased provides food, fruits, drinks, curd, and money to the participants dressed as cows.
The festival’s name is rooted in the belief that the souls of the deceased cross a legendary river on their way to heaven by holding onto the tail of a cow. Gai Jatra traces its origins to the reign of King Pratap Malla, who initiated the festival to console his grieving queen after the loss of their young son by encouraging his subjects to dress in different attires to lift her spirits.
Despite the wet weather, thousands of people participated in the Gai Jatra celebration in different parts of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, with the Basantapur area seeing a particularly large turnout.
News By: Grishma Tamang, Photos By: Puspa Pal