Gaijatra Festival Being Observed Today

Gaijatra is a festival observed by the central Newar group residing in Kathmandu, Patan, Kritipur and Bhaktapur, in memory of the deceased members of their families. “Gai” means cow and “Jatra” refer as procession. This is a special day of arranging procession of cow, for the deceased family member, hoping their journey after death would be easier. This procession also teaches people to accept harsh reality of death and to move on.

Newari people from Kathmandu whose family members were lost in that year arrange the procession where people (specially children) are dressed as cow in colorful garments, a hermit and various god and goddesses and gather in Durbar square.

Similarly, people from Bhaktapur create a traditional carriage known as Taha-Macha from fabric wrapped bamboo and with a image of the dead man hanged in the middle, sailed by a family along a predefined path. They even perform the popular Ghintan Ghisi dance. Humor is another aspect of Gaijatra where people wear humorous clothes and perform funny stuff in the procession.