Kathmandu, August 16

Gai Jatra, one of the traditional festivals most popular in Kathmandu valley, was celebrated with much fanfare, paying tributes to persons who died in the last one year.

Gai Jatra, which is also literally called the Festival of Cows, falls on the first day of the waning moon in Nepali month of Bhadra.

Valley denizens observed the festival by performing mask dances and dramas in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur cities. The government had declared public holiday in the valley to mark the festival.

Though this festival is observed mainly by the Newar community, other communities also participate with great enthusiasm. On the occasion, revellers in strange and funny costumes took out rallies in memory of their deceased loved ones. Real cows are also brought out in the procession as it is believed that cows help departed souls to make their way safely to the heaven. Various places in the valley, mainly Basantapur, drew a huge crowd.

Gai Jatra is also celebrated as an occasion to satirise evil traditions and practices of the society.

Comedians celebrated the festival by organising shows with satiric performances on failures of the government, political parties, leaders and the society in general, as a way of raising public awareness against their wrongdoings.