Mega-Earthquake deceased remembered in Gaijatra
Nepal remembered the deceased of Megha-Earthquake in the traditional festival of Gaijatra. The festival celebration shows especially in the three major cities of Kathmandu valley. However, the other parts of the country also organizes the event in the memory of a deceased one who died within the twelve-month. The other parts of the country also mark the festival among Newar community settlements.
The traditional festival of Gaijatra or the ‘cow festival’ is observed for three days in the three cities of Kathmandu Valley. Some other places in the country amidst fun, gaiety, humor, satire and entertainment. The festival begins on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra. The festival date follows the Sunilunar calendar and it lasts for a week.
During this time-honored tradition, people of all ages in the guise of cows and lunatics go around the city. The participants wear odd costumes to commemorate those who died during the past year. The bereaved families offer fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd, and money to those participating. They also feed the cows in the procession.
Tourist Sector shows a distinct presence
The tourism sector of Nepal organized a rally remembering all the national and foreign nationals who lost their lives in the mega-earthquake. The rally displayed a slogan of “Forget the past, forget the pain, live your life, lead to gain. Different organization like Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), National Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) including Kathe Nepal participate in the rally.
The participants lit 101 lights at the program remembering all the deceased of Nepal mega-earthquake. The program concludes after organizing a comedy performance at Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) premises. This is the first time that Nepal organized the Tourism Gaijatra festival in the memory of dead foreign nationals.
As the saying goes, the festival derives its name from the religious belief that the deceased, during their journey to heaven, crosses a legendary river by grabbing the tail of a cow.