President Dr Yadav, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Nepal Army, conferred awards and honours on the army persons who performed the best on musical rider and show jump.
On the occasion, the Nepal Army persons performed various equestrian skills as pony race, cycle race, show jump, drill ride, group tent pegging, cross tent pegging, lance hit pace, lance, pick and handling, vaulting and horse handling, six bar and rein free jump, dog show and Hungarian Post.
The festival reflects the age old relations between the human and horse. In the Mahabharat era, the horses were used for wars.
There is also a belief that a demon called Gurumapa dwelling on a tree at the south-east corner of Tundikhel afflicted the city dwellers and killed children. So, the people killed the demon, but could not feel safe thinking the spirit of the demon would haunt them again. With this, they were for taming the spirit of the Gurumapa demon by trampling with horse hooves.
The festival is continued carrying the significance from the very belief.
Ghodejatra festival being celebrated today
On today night itself, the Gurumapa is offered rice near the tree on the south-east corner of Tundikhel.
The festival was also observed by Vice-President Parmanand Jha, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Acting Chief Justice, Kalyan Shrestha, Speaker Subash Nembang, chiefs of the constitutional bodies and other dignitaries.
The festival begun from 3:00pm continued for an hour.
A lot of people gathered around Tundikhel to see the horse races.
