This festival of Gai Jatra is a sombre one. It expresses the wish of the surviving members of a deceased that
his heavenward journey should be smooth. To achieve this they take the help of a cow which is worshiped as a holy animal by the devout Hindus.
As per the age old tradition, any family who has lost his near or a dear in the preceding year has to participate in a procession through the Kathmandu Streets leading a cow.
Practical a religion as Hinduism is there is always an alternative to anything which may be difficult to procure. In this case, if a cow is not available then a young boy dressed up as cow is substituted. The belief is that by doing this the cow will assist the deceased relatives' heavenward journey.
After performing this sombre ritual, every one then takes part in an age old tradition wherein the participants dress up and wear masks. There is a lot of banter, jokes, humor, mimicry which goes on till late in the night.
As has been said earlier, there is nothing in the traditions which the Hindus follow without any purpose. Take
Gai Jatra. This perhaps was the method adopted to let people know that someone in a particular family was no more. The later portion is to make the situation lighter.
This occasion is also popular to hit satire the political leaders and other well known people in the society.
As per the age old tradition, any family who has lost his near or a dear in the preceding year has to participate in a procession through the Kathmandu Streets leading a cow.
Practical a religion as Hinduism is there is always an alternative to anything which may be difficult to procure. In this case, if a cow is not available then a young boy dressed up as cow is substituted. The belief is that by doing this the cow will assist the deceased relatives' heavenward journey.
After performing this sombre ritual, every one then takes part in an age old tradition wherein the participants dress up and wear masks. There is a lot of banter, jokes, humor, mimicry which goes on till late in the night.
As has been said earlier, there is nothing in the traditions which the Hindus follow without any purpose. Take
Gai Jatra. This perhaps was the method adopted to let people know that someone in a particular family was no more. The later portion is to make the situation lighter.
This occasion is also popular to hit satire the political leaders and other well known people in the society.
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