03:40Thousands of people from the Newar community gathered in Kathmandu Valley to celebrate the Gai Jatra festival on Tuesday, honouring their late relatives and friends with a lively, cow-themed and light-hearted procession.
Footage shows locals marching, holding highly decorated rods, and pulling a cart featuring photos of the deceased. Dancing and drumming can be seen with some banging cymbals, and many wearing traditional outfits.
"Even those who died a year or a day or two ago are to be remembered through this programme. At the end of the programme, a cow is also worshipped," one local explained. [It] continues for eight days from today," added a second.
Gai Jatra, also known as the 'cow festival,' began during the reign of King Pratap Malla during the 17th century, to comfort his mourning wife following their son's death.
The festival evolved over time, incorporating humour and satire with the aim of helping people cope with their grief. Celebrated annually, it holds a cultural and religious significance for the Newar people.
Very moo-ving! Cow-centric Gai Jatra festival uses humour to honour deceased relatives in Kathmandu
Thousands of people from the Newar community gathered in Kathmandu Valley to celebrate the Gai Jatra festival on Tuesday, honouring their late relatives and friends with a lively, cow-themed and light-hearted procession.
Footage shows locals marching, holding highly decorated rods, and pulling a cart featuring photos of the deceased. Dancing and drumming can be seen with some banging cymbals, and many wearing traditional outfits.
"Even those who died a year or a day or two ago are to be remembered through this programme. At the end of the programme, a cow is also worshipped," one local explained. [It] continues for eight days from today," added a second.
Gai Jatra, also known as the 'cow festival,' began during the reign of King Pratap Malla during the 17th century, to comfort his mourning wife following their son's death.
The festival evolved over time, incorporating humour and satire with the aim of helping people cope with their grief. Celebrated annually, it holds a cultural and religious significance for the Newar people.
Thousands of people from the Newar community gathered in Kathmandu Valley to celebrate the Gai Jatra festival on Tuesday, honouring their late relatives and friends with a lively, cow-themed and light-hearted procession.
Footage shows locals marching, holding highly decorated rods, and pulling a cart featuring photos of the deceased. Dancing and drumming can be seen with some banging cymbals, and many wearing traditional outfits.
"Even those who died a year or a day or two ago are to be remembered through this programme. At the end of the programme, a cow is also worshipped," one local explained. [It] continues for eight days from today," added a second.
Gai Jatra, also known as the 'cow festival,' began during the reign of King Pratap Malla during the 17th century, to comfort his mourning wife following their son's death.
The festival evolved over time, incorporating humour and satire with the aim of helping people cope with their grief. Celebrated annually, it holds a cultural and religious significance for the Newar people.