Gai Jatra (The Cow Festival)

The "Gai Jatra" festival is celebrated by the Newar community according to the newari calender. During this festival, cows decorated in various forms are taken for roaming around the town from every house where the people had died the previous year. In Bhaktapur, living are cows are not used, instead children are decorated in various god and goddess and represented as cow. Also, a structure of bamboo is made to represent the cow. These various representations of cows are taken round the town. The "Gai Jatra" festival lasts for nine days. During the first the tribute is paid to the passed away members of the family and the following days is celebrated by performing different cultural dances, dramas, musics, and several satirical plays as well. The "stick dances" is the major attraction during this festival. People in Bhaktapur believe that on the first day of this festival they should eat nine different variety of food, wear nine variety of clothes and travel around the town for nine times.
There is historical significance as well in celebrating this festival. During the Malla regime, the Prince died at very young. The queen was very dishearten due to the untimely demise of her son. To console her and to bring her out from this pain, the king ordered to conduct this festival praying for the peace and liberation of the departed soul. Everyone since then celebrated this festival with great enthusiasm and respect to their beloved and departed family members.