Nepal Celebrates GaiJatra: A Festive Procession of Cows and LGBTQI+ Pride

Thousands of Nepalese commemorated lost loved ones during the GaiJatra festival with parades of cows and LGBTQI+ pride. Held at UNESCO World Heritage site Kathmandu Durbar Square, the event saw participants dressed as cows and colorful characters following traditions believed to offer salvation to departed souls.

On Tuesday, Nepalese citizens celebrated the GaiJatra festival, honoring departed loved ones with a vibrant parade of cows and LGBTQI+ pride. The event, held at the UNESCO World Heritage site Kathmandu Durbar Square, attracted thousands of people dressed in cow costumes to participate in the colorful procession.

The festival saw participants, including those dressing as lunatics, circle around the city in memory of those lost within the past year. Bereaved families offered fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd, and money to the procession, following the belief that these acts could grant salvation to their loved one's souls. "We've celebrated Gaijatra since ancestral times, parading as cows to commemorate our departed loved ones," Bishow Bijayraj Joshi told ANI.

The GaiJatra, or Cow Festival, falls on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra, typically observed by the Newari and Tharu communities. This year's festival also included the 21st Pride Parade by the LGBTQI+ community, who honored their deceased comrades. "We celebrate to show our dignity and respect within society while remembering our community members who passed away," said Preti Petter, program coordinator at Blue Diamond Society.

(With inputs from agencies.)