When is Gaijatra?
Gai Jatra, (which means 'cow festival' in Nepali) is a festival celebrated in the Kathmandu valley by the Newar community.
In 2021, it was declared as a public holiday to the entire Newar community living across Nepal
This Hindu festival commemorates those who have died during the year and is celebrated on the first day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadra, which means it usually falls in August or September.
Traditions of Gaijatra
During Gaijatra it is a tradition that any family who has lost a relative during the last year participates in a procession through the streets of Kathmandu, leading a cow. If a cow is unavailable, then a young boy dressed as a cow is allowed.
In Hinduism, a cow is regarded as the most venerated of all the domestic animals. It is believed that the cow, will assist a deceased relative on their journey to heaven.
One story about the festival is when the 17th century King Pratap Malla lost his son, the queen was grief-stricken. To show his wife that death is a natural part of life, he called on his people to hold a carnival if someone has died in their family. Many people answered this call which helped the queen by showing that she was not alone in her grief and that all those who participated in the festival had also lost a loved one.
