Ghodejatra, an annual festival of the horse, is celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley on the new moon day of the Nepali month of Chaita according to the lunar calendar.[break]
Marking the Day, the government announced a public holiday in all government offices in the Kathmandu Valley Sunday.
On the occasion, the Nepal Army held Pony Races, Charger Horse Races and Tent-pegging.
Besides, group tent pegging, tent pegging, drill ride, vaulting exercise, rein free jump, musical ride, cross country-water jump-fixed, puissance (high jump, Hungarion post, fire jump were also presented.
Dr Yadav, also the Supreme Commander of the Nepalese Army (NA), gave away prizes to the best performers of the events.
Vice President Parmananda Jha, chiefs and officials of the constitutional bodies, high ranking government officials, chiefs of security bodies and prominent figures in the society also joined the Ghodejatra celebrations.
The Ghodejatra festival or the horse festival has its origin in a legend that says the horses are made to tread on the spirit of a demon called the Gurumapa that used to live near the south-east part of the present-day Tundikhel (army pavilion). According to the legend, the demon harassed the people of the Kathmandu valley and devoured the children in the ancient city.
It is said the people of Kathmandu slayed the demon but still feared that its spirit might be dwelling around its abode. So they started the tradition of ´treading the demon´s spirit´ by riding horses.
There is also the tradition of ´feeding´ this legendary demon at midnight hour on the day of the Ghodejatra to appease it so that it would not cause any harm to the children in the city.
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Ghodejatra festival being celebrated today
