Origin
Gai Jatra was started by KingEtymology
The festival is known as Sa Paru inCelebrations
In the Hindu religion, ''Gai'' (Cow) is sacred like a Lakshmi and viewed as a mother. The children of those whose family have passed away come out to Hanuman Dhoka Palace and the Newar priest performs the prayers for those passed.The children usually wear long skirts and must have a tulle belt around their waist with the ends hanging on both their right and left sides that drag on the ground while walking. It is nessesary that they drag because it touches the ground (earth) for the loved ones who passed away to ascend from earth to heaven. This is a festival of dragging clothes while walking. The children also wear head dress that have a cow drawn on them which is important, and they wear a moustache drawn on their faces. The Jatra is supposed to be religious for the Newar community to help loved ones pass from earth to heaven and also to cheer those who are left behind. The parade of drag is done in the morning by children and in the evening with caricature and stand up comedy for by Hanuman Dhoka Dabali for grieving Queen and others. Since 1600s the caricature and jokes has evolved and also includes political satires to make it more interesting on tv shows, usually the male standup comedians wear female clothes and perform both male and female parts of the play, this is fun event for Newar community as well as for all other Nepalese communities.Gai Jatra in different cities
Gia Jatra is mainly celebrated in the cities of Kathmandu valley—Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. The celebrataion of the festival has also spread to other parts of the country which have a significant Newar community.Kathmandu
Kathmandu is considered to be the main source of this festival because the king who started this festival was from this city. After the show presented to the queen was a success, it became an annual program to present the queen with this festival. As time passed on and as the king and queen died, the festival has been passed on from generation to generation. In Kathmandu, people celebrate it with much happiness and many more programs than those in Patan. The procession goes around the city to different parts of the suburbs and the inner urban areas to present the devotion to their loved ones. The people involved in this profession get small packets with fruits, sweets, oats, and other food items to help them on their tour around the city by many people watching the festival and by their loved ones.Patan
Patan has a similar kind of following for this festival like that with Kathmandu, but has less involvement of people than that in Kathmandu. People in Lalitpur have another festival similar to Gaijatra called ''Matiyaa'' which is followed by Hindus with much more devotion and much more involvement by the people. Thousands of people can be involved in this ''Matiya''. Thus, for people in Lalitpur, the procession of Gaijatra is less entertaining.Kirtipur
Gaijatra is celebrated widely, and particularly in Kirtipur's ancient historical towns: Kipu, Naga and Panga. The people in who celebrate in Kirtipur have many reasons to celebrate this festival and have a unique way of celebrating this festival. Among the people of Kirtipur, it is said that the gates of heaven for the dead are opened on this day, and the procession of Gaijatra will help their beloved to reach the gates of heaven if they march around the city for them. They march around the city of Kirtipur not by dressing up like cows but rather dressed up in different forms of gods and goddesses. People celebrate this festival not only for their dead relatives but also for peace and harmony among family members and the city itself.Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is said to have the most enjoyable and exciting Gai Jatra, as it has its own peculiarities in the ways the festival is celebrated as compared to Lalitpur and Kathmandu. A chariot (known as Taha-Macha) made of bamboo wrapped in cloth, with a photo of the deceased person hung at the center, is navigated through a predefined street by the family along with localities. So a long parade of chariots is seen. The Taha-Macha symbolizes dead people and is decorated with their possessions and photographs. The chariot has a framework of bamboo which is wrapped with cotton cloth, usually Hakupatasi (a black traditional sari type female cloth) for women and simple sari type cloth for men. The Taha-Machas are brought out from different toles of Bhaktapur, but peculiarly, the Taha-Machas of Lakolachhen are guided by one large one that has the bamboo framework but is covered in straws. This is known as Bhailya Dya: (Bhairab) and is succeeded by Ajima (Bhadrakali) made at Khala (Ajima Dyo:Chhen) Many local musicians, and a cultural dance called Ghintang Ghisi follow in the wake of a chariot.. Men are also seen wearing women's dress, Hakupatasi. People dress up in many ways. There is face painting and masks are common. Children even dress up as gods and join the parade. The Ghintang Ghisi dance is celebrated for almost a week, starting from the day of Gaijatra to Krishna Janmashtami. The dance is done in a long queue with two persons in a row hitting each other's sticks. Many cultural shows are performed, and the festival is even participated in by many nearby villages.References
{{Halloween, state=expanded Newar Observances set by the Vikram Samvat calendar Observances honoring the dead August observances September observances Hindu festivals in Nepal Hindu rituals related to death Animal festival or ritual Culture of Bagmati