Gai Jatra

I am so proud to say Gai Jatra is the one festival celebrated only in Nepal. It is not shared by any of our neighbouring country. Only Nepal has the copyright of this festivalwhich is famous for it’s uniqueness as well. Here Gai is the Nepali word for cow. Jatra means carnival of people. In simple words Gai jatra is said to be the day of worshipping cows in which lots of carnivals are shown on the streets by the people according to their culture and tradition. In ancient times it was considered to be the festival only of Newars residing in Kathmandu valley. But now the festival has spread it’s unity and joy all over to Nepal regardless of anyCasts andethnicity.

Literally, the meaning of Gai Jatra is Cow Festival where Gai means Cow and Jatra mean festival. Cow Festival is a jovial Nepalese festival that lasts for eight days. Gai Jatra is 8 days festival in Nepal. It is a typical Nepali festival. There are lots of fun in this festival like dancing, singing, caricature, comedy, play, data, nach, drama, pantomime, anything that causes mirth and laughter are part of the festival’s highlight. On the first day of the Gai Jatra festival, people whose family members have died during that year, parade a decorated cow around the city (especially in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur) together with their young ones dressed as cows or hermits.