KATHMANDU, March 22: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav observed the Ghodejatra (traditional horse festival) organized by Nepal Army at Tundikhel army pavilion on Thursday.
President Dr Yadav is the Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Nepal Army.[break]
Various 19 equestrian skills including jump show, cross tent pegging, sword jump, horse ball, fire jump and lance and ring were performed on the occasion.
On the occasion, President Dr Yadav gave away prizes to captain Rajendra Baniya and sergeant Rajendra Thapa for coming out first and second respectively in the jump show competition, and to captains Bikram Dev Thapa and Umesh Puri for finishing first and second respectively in musical ride.
The Ghodejatra is the traditional festival celebrated every year with the belief that a demon named Gurumapa which resided on a tree at the south-eastern corner of Tundikhel used to feed on children from the city. It was killed by the city dwellers but its spirit could cast jinx on children. So, the spirit should be crushed with horseshoes to avoid the jinx on children, as per the belief.
Also, food is offered to the tree this night for the same reason.
Vice-President Parmananda Jha, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Chief Justice Khilraj Regmi, Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Nembang, ministers, CA members, heads of constitutional bodies, high ranking officials of Nepal government, chiefs of security bodies, and distinguished persons were also present to observe the festival.
Similarly, locals from the city and around thronged Tundikhel for witnessing the annual celebration.
The festival was telecast live by various television and radio stations.
All government offices in the Kathmandu Valley remained closed as the Government announced a public holiday on the occasion of Ghodejatra.
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