July 28, 2025

Gai Jatra, or the Festival of the Cow, is one of the most beloved and emotionally complex festivals in the Kathmandu Valley. Celebrated mainly in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan, the festival is both a public expression of grief and a joyful celebration of life. Families who lost a loved one in the past year lead a cow—or a child dressed as one—through the streets in a symbolic gesture to guide the departed soul toward liberation.

Rooted in ancient Newar tradition and Hindu cosmology, Gai Jatra takes place during the month of Gunla, shortly after Janai Purnima. According to legend, the grieving queen of King Pratap Malla was inconsolable after the death of her son. To comfort her, the king ordered a procession of people who had also lost loved ones. The display of shared sorrow eventually brought her to tears—and then to laughter when the parade evolved into a carnival of satire, music, and humor.

That blend of grief and comedy continues today. In Kathmandu, young boys dress in outrageous costumes, perform street skits, and poke fun at politicians, celebrities, and even gods. Satirical performances and humorous posters lampoon current events and social issues, making Gai Jatra one of Nepal’s most freewheeling and democratic festivals.

Meanwhile, in Bhaktapur, the festival has a more ritualistic and theatrical feel. Sacred dances like the Ghintang Ghisi and Lakhey dances animate the streets, and every neighborhood stages its own unique version of the procession. The atmosphere is chaotic, musical, and deeply human.

Gai Jatra is a catharsis—a way for society to come together and mourn collectively, laugh loudly, and remember joy in the face of sorrow. It is a festival where sacred and silly coexist, and where the living honor the dead not with silence, but with celebration.

  • Time of Year: August (the day after Janai Purnima, per lunar calendar)
  • Location: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan (especially old city areas)
  • Duration: 1 day (but festivities may stretch over a few days in some towns)
  • What to Expect: Cow processions, costumed children, satirical skits, street performances, community laughter
  • Interesting Facts:
    • In Bhaktapur, the festival includes multiple processions from different toles, each with its own music and costumes
    • Considered a social safety valve for freedom of expression and humor, even on serious topics
    • Cows are believed to help guide the souls of the dead to the afterlife