For those who are not fairly acquainted with the unique traditions of the Kathmandu Valley, it was a rather bizarre procession, which was further amplified by a loud orchestra of the indigenous Newari equipment.
When a passer-by asked the lad what was it all about, the lad yelled at top of his voice: “Actually, I have been disguised as a cow,”
Every year, this day, in the three cities of Kathmandu Valley, people especially of the Newar community observe Gai Jatra, which literally means the festival of cows. But Gai Jatra is not a fair or a festival in the typical sense. [break]
The people who have lost their near and dear ones the previous year lead a procession behind a cow or a young boy dressed as a cow to death in the memory of the deceased family member.
“My granny died last year. So, in her memory, my parents made me a cow and lead the procession,” said the third grader student.
However, the boy admits that it was not so somber ritual for him. He said he enjoyed the ritual as people offer him fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd and even money.
His parents, who marched behind him, holding a portrait of the granny informed that they conducted the procession as it is believed in the Hindu religion that the ritual will help the deceased ascend to the heaven.
While many children like Krrish lead the procession guised as a cow, some children are also seen leading the procession masquerading as a sage. Riwaj Mehar Kayastha, 8, of Chapagaun in Lalitpur was one of them.
“This is the third time I am posing as a saint for the festival,” said Riwaj, who was clad on a dhoti and wore duplicate bread for that saintly look. Though he was not fully aware of the religious significance of the procession, he was more than happy to become ´a saint´ to commemorate the death of his great grandmother, his brother-in-law and then his grandfather.
“When I was as old as my son, I had also taken part in the procession. I want my son to follow the suit,” said Surendra Mehar Kayastha, father of Riwaj, who is a dentist by profession.
This ritual is believed to have been started in the medieval period by King Pratab Malla when his spouse could not come in terms with the sudden demise of their son.
Unable to convince the queen to accept the eventuality, the King had ordered his people to organize a humorous procession as a psychological treatment and make her realize that ´meeting and parting are the laws of nature and it should be taken easily.´
He is also believed to ask people to disguise themselves as different animals, objects, and characters and organize humorous and satire programs in various forms and show social and political anomalies, human follies and other contemporary affairs.
Eventually, the trick of King worked and the queen burst into laughter.
“Since then, the festival, which has its own religious importance, has also been a festival of humor.
“Especially from the Rana regime, the occasion has become a best time to present talent for the cartoonists, comedians, satirists and other artistes,” said Satya Mohan Joshi, a noted cultural analyst.
He stressed the need to give continuation to the festival as the rituals such as the Gai Jatra preserves the cultural identity and also gives an insight into the traditional way of living.
Bibho Kayastha, 20, of Bhotahiti had a different purpose to disguise himself as a cow. “I have become a cow to give message to the youth that we should adhere to our culture and give continuity to it, rather than blindly following the Western culture.”
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