The Gaijatra festival or 'festival of cows' being observed across the country in Nepal on Wednesday Aug. 25th. This annual Hindu event commemorates loved ones who have been lost in the previous year. 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 'cow' helps departed souls to cross the cosmic ocean in their journey into the after-world. Cows are sacred animals in Hinduism.
The procession is held in all places across the country. In Kathmandu district especially, it is observed in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kirtipur, and Panga.
People of Patan, Lalitpur celebrate "Matya", festival of light, a day after the Gaijatra, remembering their loved ones.It consists of a day-long procession of devotees going around the Buddhist courtyards of the town and offering worship at the shrines there. Carrying lighted tapers and joss sticks in their hands, Mata-yaa participants rush in a meandering file and visit the hundreds of Buddhist sites scattered all over Patan. They toss rice grains, flowers and coins at the shrines as they pass by. Some devotees wear elaborate and amusing costumes.
There is also 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 people, especially of the Newar community have been observing Gaijatra festival since the Malla period to commemorate the loss of their family members by going around the town with masked faces and idols of cows.
Hence, Gai Jatra is a healthy festival which enables the people to accept the reality of death and to prepare oneself for the life after death. According to Hinduism,"whatever a man does in his life is a preparation to lead a good life, after death".
