President Ram Baran Yadav, Vice President Paramananda Jha, Chairman of Interim Election Council of Minister Khil Raj Regmi, ministers, ambassadors to Nepal from different countries and high-level government officials observed horse races, parades, acrobatics and various stunts performed at Tundikhel parade ground on the occasion.[break]
The Ghodejatra festival was originated as per the beliefs that the horses can trample the spirit of a demon named Gurumapa. As per the legend, Gurumapa lived at the south-east side of the present Tundikhel. Gurumapa used to torture the people of the Kathmandu Valley and devoured children.
Though the people of Kathmandu managed to kill the demon, they feared that its spirit would harm them in future. Thus the tradition of trampling the demon´s spirit with horses´ hoof started in the capital.
Meanwhile, some locals still follow the ancient tradition of feeding the demon at midnight on the day of Ghode Jatra to calm down the spirit and prevent it from causing any harm to children.
The army personnel displayed horse-riding skills, horse parades, equestrian show, musical rider, vaulting exercises and fire jumps.
Other performances by the police and army personnel included Pony Races Charger Horse Race, Sword Jump, Show Jump, Group Tent Pegging, Cross Tent Pegging, Lance and Creese, Sword and Apple, Drill Ride, Six Bar, Cycle Race, Hungarian Post, Chariot Dressage, Musical Ride, Valuating Exercise and Horse Ball, among others.
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VOX POP
Very few horses were used this time around
Ram Maya Thapa, a native of Arghakhachi
I came with my daughter to see Ghode Jatra. But we could not watch the show because of the crowd. Many high-profile people, including the president and government secretaries attend the ceremony. But I think it is meaningless to conduct such events spending huge amount of money if commoners like us can´t take the pleasure of the event. I am sixty-year-old and suffer and feel pain in my joints if I stand for a while. Today I stood here for three hours with my daughter, who is pregnant. Proper seating arrangement for public is must if the festival is to retain its charm.
Musafir Pandit, Motihari, India
I have been selling pani-puri at Saheed Gate for six years now and have witnessed both the Gode Jatra and people who come to watch the festival. I feel that the charm of this festival is gradually decreasing. I also saw that very few horses were used this time around. No wonder, the area fenced by the army personnel for the show was comparatively less this time. On the day of Ghode Jatra, I used to earn more than Rs 4,000 but I could make only around Rs 2000 this time, which proves that the festival did not attract many people this year.
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PHOTOS: KESHAB THOKER
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