Gai Jatra is translated as the Cow Festival. Gai means ‘Cow’ and Jatra means ‘festival’. It is a classic Nepalese festival. In Nepal Bhasa, it is called ‘Sa Paru’. One of the most popular festivals Gai Jatra is generally celebrated in July or August based on the lunar Calendar. In the Newar Community of Kathmandu Valley, this festival holds great significance. The festival memorializes the death of family members during the year. During this festival, cows are marched in the streets.
The festivities of Gai Jatra, begin on the 1st day of the waning Moon in the month of Shukla Paksha of Bhadra (July or August). It is usually celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (August–September). People whose family members have died during the year, those families decorate the cows around the city together with their young ones dressed as cows or eremites. People also distribute food to others during the festival period.
