Gai Jatra or cow Festival
Today Nepal is celebrating Gai Jatra or cow festival. It is the procession of cows and is dedicated to God Yama – the god of death. It is observed the day after Raksha Bandhan and Janai Purnima. People who had a death in their family during the previous year take part in the procession. People participating in the procession walk along with a cow and those not owning a cow take boys dressed like cow. Historians are of the view that King Pratap Malla had once lost a son and the Queen was depressed. She stopped talking and reacting. The King made a promise that he will reward anyone who can make the queen laugh. so Gai Jatra is also a day for making merry jokes and satires. It is a day when everyone is allowed to make satirical comments on any one. Before Nepal became a republic, Gai Jatra was only the medium to satirize the kings of Nepal.