Kathmandu: The traditional cultural festival 'Gaijatra', which is celebrated for eight days every year from Bhadra Krishna Pratipada to Ashtami, is being launched across the country by organizing various programs on Monday.
In the memory of the relatives who have passed away within a year, today a cow or a person is adorned as a cow and circulated in their respective areas and they are given milk, fruits, bread, chewing gum, curd as well as grains and substances by the devotees. There is a religious belief that people who die during the year cross the Vaitarani by holding the tail of a cow.
It is a historical fact that the festival was started on the basis of King Pratap Malla's order to the people to go around the city in the name of the dead in their homes to show the world that their queen should be mourned in the same way. As the queen's mind could not be calmed by this, it is rumored that satire has been practiced as per the order to hold various comedy and satire programs.
Gaijatra, which has been in vogue since the time of Pratap Malla, has to go through the palace at Hanuman Dhoka. Although Gaijatra is celebrated in different cities of the country, its special vibrancy is seen in the valley. Due to the corona, there is a need to celebrate the festival by maintaining a physical distance.
During the festival, which is celebrated till the day of Bhadra Krishna Ashtami, comedy, a satire on social evils, dance songs, and songs of Ramayana's Karuna Rasa are sung in memory of the deceased.
Gaijatra is a satire against perversion
Gaijatra was also banned after the royal coup on December 26, 2017, saying that it satirized the Panchayat system. Cultural expert Satya Mohan Joshi says that in 2033 BS, Nepal State Wisdom Foundation started celebrating Gaijatra again with jhanki and comedy satire as a festival.
He said that humorous satire would make those who are arrogant aware of it and would show meaningfulness in futility. The books of Satya Yuga shown in Patan during the procession, the sample of rice, and the books written in gold and silver letters in Thamel of Kathmandu are considered to be of special interest.
Nowadays, on the occasion of Gaijatra, the existing distortions and anomalies in society are exposed. Various programs are also organized in public in an entertaining and satirical manner. Newspapers also publish satirical issues on social issues.
Gaijatra festival is celebrated in Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Panauti, Barhavise, Trishuli, Dolakha, Khotang, Bhojpur, Chainpur, Ilam, Dharan, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Hetauda, and Pokhara. For the first time this year, the government has given a public holiday to the Newar community across the country on the occasion of Gaijatra. A public holiday has also been given in Kathmandu Valley today on the occasion of Gaijatra.
