Kathmandu. Kathmandu: Gai Jatra, a traditional cultural festival celebrated every year for eight days from Bhadra Krishna Pratipada to Ashtami, is being celebrated across the country today by organizing various programs in the Kathmandu Valley.

On this day, in memory of the relatives who passed away within a year, cows or people are circumambulated in their respective areas as cows and they are given milk, fruits, bread, ragi, curd as well as food and liquid by the devotees. It is a religious belief that by circumambulating the city in this way, people who die throughout the year cross the Vaitarani with the tail of the cow.

According to the historical fact, this festival started on the basis of King Pratap Malla’s order to ‘take out gai jatra in the name of the deceased people of their house and circumambulate the city’ to show that the world should also suffer the same grief to his queen, who was devastated by the son’s grief. From this, the queen’s mind has not been calmed, so it is believed that the practice of humor is going on as per the order to organize various types of farce and satirical programs.

The practice of gai jatra, which has been in vogue since the time of Pratap Malla, continues to pass through the royal palace (royal palace) at Hanumandhoka. Although Gai Jatra is celebrated in different cities of the country, it is seen in the Valley. During this festival, which is celebrated on the day of Bhadra Krishna Ashtami, farce, satirical performances on social distortions, dancing and songs of Karun Rasa of Ramayana are also sung in memory of the dead person.

GaiJatra as a comedy against distortion

Gai Jatra was also banned after the royal coup on December 1, 2017, for making a mockery of the panchayat system. In 2033 BS, The Nepal State Academy started celebrating Gai Jatra again as a festival with tableau and humour.

Humour makes those who digest understanding and warn those who do it recklessly and reflect meaning in futility. During the jatra, the rice and rice samples of Satyayug shown in Patan and books written in golden and silver letters shown in Thamel of Kathmandu are considered to be specially visible. Nowadays, on the occasion of Gai Jatra, the distortions and anomalies present in the society are exposed. Various programs are organized in public in an entertaining and satirical manner. Even in newspapers, humorous issues are published by incorporating social evils.

Gai Jatra festival is celebrated in Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Panauti, Barhabise, Trishuli, Dolakha, Khotang, Bhojpur, Chainpur, Ilam, Dharan, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Hetauda, Pokhara and other cities with special presence. Comedians also organize special programs on this occasion. Kathmandu: The government has declared a public holiday in The Kathmandu Valley today.