Kathmandu, August 17

The traditional Gaijatra or the ‘cow festival’ is being observed in the three cities of the valley and some other places in the country amidst fun, gaiety, humor, satire and entertainment.

The festival, beginning on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra, lasts for a week.

During this time-honored tradition, people of all ages in the guise of cows and lunatics go round the city wearing odd costumes to commemorate those who died during the past year.

Family members of those who died during the year offer fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd and money to those participating in the procession, including the cows.

As the saying goes, the festival derives its name from the religious belief that the deceased, during their journey to heaven, cross a legendary river by holding onto the tail of a cow.

This festival is believed to have started during the reign of King Pratap Malla, who, in a bid to console his queen, much grieved at the death of her son in a smallpox epidemic, ordered his people to organize humour and satire programmes in various comic postures.

This tradition has been given continuity in the form of the Gaijatra festival during which people also give vent to pent-up feelings towards social and political anomalies, human follies and other contemporary affairs through comic skits, cartoons and the like.

Newspapers and magazines also bring out special humour satire issues to mark the occasion.

The day is a public holiday in Kathmandu Valley. Apart from Kathmandu valley, the festival is also observed in Banepa, Dhulikhel, Trisuli, Dolakha, Khotang, Bhojpur, Chainpur, Ilam, Dharan, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Hetauda and Pokhara.