Gai Jatra - The Festivals of Nepal

Gai Jatra, the popular festival celebrated in Nepal is the festival of cows. Mainly celebrated by the Newar Community in Kathmandu Valley, the festival has its own significance and importance in Nepalese culture and tradition. This festival of cows falls on month of Bhadra (August-September) and this year it is on August 30, 2015 (Bhadra 13, 2015 B.S.). During the celebration of the festival, people commemorate the souls of the dead who took off during the past one year. The festival falls just after another day celebration of Hindu festival Janai Purnima. Janai purnima and Gai jatra are the two popular festivals celebrated on August and adds a great importance in the Nepali for the happiness and mutual understanding.

Cow Jatra (Gai Jatra) in Nepal

Literally Gai means Cow and Jatra means festival in Nepali language so Gai Jatra is the festival of cows and on this festival, a procession in memory of the dead goes on street led by a cow and if cow is not available then kids are made as cows with the different costumes and humorous acts playing traditional musical instruments. So it is believed that cows help the passed one to ascend to heaven without any problem.

Origin and History

According to the history, King Pratap Malla announced the Gai Jatra festival in Nepal in 18th century. King Pratap Malla and his wife lost their very young son due to small fox and this incident led queen in great misery. The king was very disappointed to see the condition of his queen as he tried millions to make his queen smile and happy. Then he announced that anyone in the city who could make the queen happy would be rewarded adequately. Then the people tried their best to make the queen smile with wearing the costumes and humorous acts which helped queen to understand that death is a natural process and there are several deaths in the city and finally she accepted death. From this day the festival is celebrated regularly and there is a public holiday in Kathmandu Valley on this day.

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