Gai Jatra 2024 - The Festival of Turning Grief into Joy

Gai Jatra, also known as the "Festival of Cows," is a vibrant and culturally significant festival celebrated primarily in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. The festival holds immense cultural and historical importance, marking a day of reverence, remembrance, and merriment. Also known as the Sa Paru, the Gai Jatra hosts find tons of Nepalese singing, dancing, and laughing together on the streets. Celebrated by the Newar community on the outskirts of the Kathmandu region, the Gai Jatra is said to be one of the unique festivals in the world. 

Gai Jatra is celebrated to commemorate and honor departed souls, especially those who have passed away in the preceding year. The festival helps families cope with the loss of their loved ones and is believed to help the departed souls find peace in their afterlife journey. A key feature of Gai Jatra is the procession of cows (considered sacred in Hinduism) through the streets. Families who have lost a member in the past year lead a decorated cow or children dressed as cows in the procession. The cows are believed to guide the departed souls to the afterlife.

Gai Jatra 2024 Date

According to the Hindu calendar, Gai Jatra occurs during the month of Bhadra, which generally falls during August and September. As per the Nepal Era Lunar Calendar, the Gai Jatra celebrations are carried out on Pratipada, the first day of the dark fortnight. The Gai Jatra is a public holiday, as all main roads remain dysfunctional on this day.

Gai Jatra Festival date 2024: 20 August 2024

Gai Jatra Across Nepal

Various Nepali cities such as Patan, Kirtipur, and Bhaktapur celebrate the festival of the dead in varied forms, like the Nepali folk arts at Kathmandu. The origin of Gai Jatra, Katmandu, also commences the queen's annual presentation. The distribution of sweets, oats, and fruits is a common custom of the Gai Jatra.

1. Gai Jatra in Kirtipur

Widely celebrated in several historical towns of Kirtipur, such as Itagol, Panga, Bhajanga, Kepu Dey and Naga, the Gai Jatra holds a different interpretation here. As Kirtipur devotees march through the city, they mimic the attires of various Gods and the Goddesses. Praying for their departed loved ones to reach the gates of heaven throughout the parade, the Kirtipur Gai Jatra vastly bases celebrations on believing the gates of heaven will open on this day.
Following the grand procession, farmers organize a grand feast in their fields and call upon the Kirtipur families to join them in unity. With a variety of folk dance performances, Kirtipur diversely celebrates the Gai Jatra in Nepal.

2. Gai Jatra in Bhaktapur

Taha Macha Chariot

One of the main components celebrating the Gai Jatra is the Haku Patasi (a type of black sari cloth) adorned Taha Macha chariot of Bhaktapur; decorated with pictures of the dead denoting departed souls.

Funny Fashion Show

An entertaining fashion show comprising of men donned in the Hakupatashi; a female outfit forms part of the tradition.

Ghinta Ghisi

Celebrated from the day of Gai Jatra to Krishna Janmashtami, Ghinta Ghisi also hosts an array of cultural programs. Locally performed, the Ghinta Ghisi folk dance also hosts devotees and children masked in colours along with painted bodies. Dressed as different Gods, children have funfilled participation at the Ghinta Ghisi.

 3. Gai Jatra in Patan

Celebrated with comparatively lesser enthusiasm, Patan conducts the Matayaa, a religious procession. 

How is Gai Jatra Celebrated? 

Traditionally celebrated by the Nepali Hindus, the Gai Jatra (Cow Festival) is conducted in memory of departed loved ones. The belief and intention behind the Gai Jatra are to share in the sorrows of losing their special ones with each other as they gain their blessings. A compulsory Nepalese festival, especially for grieving families, it is a time of familial participate in activities considered to bring happiness and safety to departed souls.

Cow Parade Traditions

The Newari people decorate a cow; in the absence of which, a cow-costumed young boy is further street-paraded; the latter being the latest custom. During the parade, distributions of home-made food items to the needy take place.
New traditional clothing manufactured before the event are exclusively adorned on the day of the Gai Jatra. A positive physiological effect among participants is believed to be the outcome of the parade.

Traditions and History of Gai Jatra

Gai Jatra After-Parade

Once the parade is complete, every participant adorns a king-like hand-made mask and clothes. An array of comic and humorous performances take place during the Gai Jatra.

Modern Day Traditions

Today, the Gai Jatra also includes a platform empowering freedom of speech. Political satire and social comedy are standard practices of this gala event. The Gai Jatra organizes mass television and radio coverage by several media houses in the promotion of the festival.

The Backstory of Gai Jatra - The story of King Malla and the Queen

Traditionally enriched, the Gai Jatra dates back to the era of the king of Nepal Mandala, Pratap Malla, who is said to have lost his young son. Unbearing of the grief of the queen, King Malla made a rewarding announcement for the one who could make the queen happy again. Upon mass failure, King Malla ordered a grand cow parade along with dancers and singers. Lessons from the Myth Upon witnessing the cow parade, the queen turned happy and grateful, thus understanding death to be an inevitable phenomenon of life. Realizing that several loved ones depart each day, the queen turned grateful towards life. Therefore, King Pratap Malla is regarded as the pioneer of Gai Jatra.

Why The Cow?

Remarkably worshipped as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity according to Hindu myth, cows hold great significance among the Newari tribes. Popular belief holds cow worship to be a way to escape the clutches of Yamaraja, the God of Death.

Traveller Tips

• Witness the grand Gai Jatra parade at either Kathmandu or Kirtipur.
• Avoid public modes of transport until the end of Gai Jatra, as roads are deemed to be crowded, causing much traffic.
• Purchase some food and distribute it among the Gai Jatra participants if you wish to be a part of the local social service.
• To feel more indulged in the festive mood, wear traditional Nepali clothes to follow the parade.
• Book your accommodations as soon as possible.
• Be aware of the exact Gai Jatra dates.  Ensure cross-checking from more than one reliable source.
• Make sure to check in to your hotels before the festival, as it may be tedious during Gai Jatra.

Visit Nepal during the Gai Jatra for a unique and culturally indulging experience of this ancient tradition.