KATHMANDU: Kathmandu denizens are celebrating the Gaijatra, one of the famous traditional festivals to be celebrated mainly in the Valley, in memory of dead persons of their families.

This festival falls on the first day of the waning moon in the month of the Bhadra (Bhadra Shukla Pratipada), according to the lunar calendar.

The celebration, which literally means the festival of cows, is marked with many dance and drama performances; mainly in different places of the three districts—Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

On this day, family members of people who had died in the past one year dress in the attire of a cow and take out a rally. This tradition is still popular in the Newari community.

Actual cows are also brought out in the rally as it is believed that cows help the deceased to make their way to heaven safely.

The day is celebrated with a lot of merrymaking to compensate for the grief of losing the loved ones.

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• Gaijatra celebration in Kathmandu

The festival also has a powerful social face. It is also celebrated as an occasion to satirise evil traditions and conducts being practised in the society.

Comedians celebrate the festival by organising comedy shows filled with satiric performances on failures of the government, political parties and leaders.