Gaijatra 2024 Festival Is Being Celebrated Today Nepal: A Public Holiday In Kathmandu Valley The traditional cultural festival ‘Gaijatra‘, which is celebrated for eight days every year from Bhadra Krishna Pratipada to Ashtami, is starting today across the country by organizing various programs.
In memory of relatives who have passed away within a year, it is customary these days to circumambulate a cow or a human being in the form of a cow in their respective areas, and devotees give them milk, fruits, bread, chiura, curd, as well as grain and liquid. It is a religious belief that people who have died throughout the year will pass Vaitarani by holding the tail of a cow.
It is a historical fact that this festival started based on the fact that King Pratap Malla ordered his queen, who was devastated by her son’s death, to show that the world should also bear the same grief.
The practice of going through the Rajprasad (royal palace) at Hanumandhoka for the cattle procession, which has been in vogue since the time of Pratap Malla, is still in place. Gaijatra is celebrated in different places in the country, but its special charm is seen in the valley.
Gaijatra is a satire against distortion
Cow processions were also banned after the royal coup on 1st January 2017 for satirizing the Panchayat system. In the year 2033, the Nepal State Pragya Pratishthan started to celebrate Gaijatra again with tableaus and humor as a festival.
Today, on the occasion of Gaijatra, societal distortions and disharmony are exposed. Various programs are also organized in public and in an entertaining, and satirical. Newspapers also publish satirical issues covering social evils.
The Gaijatra festival is celebrated with great pomp in cities including Banepa, Dhulikhel, Panauti, Bahbise, Trishuli, Dolakha, Khotang, Bhojpur, Chainpur, Ilam, Dharan, Biratnagar, Birganj, Hetauda, and Pokhara, where there is a special presence of people from the Newar community. Comedians have also organized a special program on this occasion.
The government has declared a public holiday in Kathmandu Valley today.
