The Gaijatra or the ‘festival of cows’ is being observed across the country on Thursday. The festival lasts for a week.

Children wearing costumes at Hanuman Dhoka marking Gaijatra, the festival to commemorate those who died during the past year, Thursday. The festival is also known for fun, humor, satire and entertainment, Aug 10 06. nepalnews.com/rh

Children wearing costumes at Hanuman Dhoka marking Gaijatra, the festival to…
On this time-honored tradition, families who have lost a member during the year parade around the city with a decorated cow. Many kids disguise themselves as cows or ascetics and walk publicly in a procession along the festival route in a merry way.

According to religious scriptures, ‘gai’ or ‘the cow’ helps departed souls to cross the cosmic ocean in their journey into the after-world. Cows are sacred animals in Hinduism.

There is a comical aspect to the festival. Humorous and satirical street shows of the people in power are performed in major towns of the country.

Many newspapers also publish special editions with humorous and satirical articles marking the Gaijatra festival.

In this festival, irregularities of the society are exposed through satirical means.

The custom, which the Newar community has been observing since the Malla regime, to commemorate the loss of their family members by going around the town humouring the onlookers with masked faces, idols of cows and taking out cows, falls in the month of Shrawan.