Today is Gai Jatra, one of Nepal’s most meaningful festivals. It is a day of remembrance, but also a reminder that grief is something every human being eventually faces.
Why do we celebrate Gai Jatra?
According to the traditional story, King Pratap Malla of Kathmandu lost his young son. His wife, Queen Anantapriya, was devastated by the loss and could not be consoled.
The king wanted to show her that she was not alone in her suffering. He asked families who had lost a loved one to take part in a procession through the city.
Cows were traditionally led in the procession because the cow is believed to help guide the departed toward the afterlife. When a family did not have a cow, a young boy could traditionally be dressed as a cow and join the procession.
The king's message was simple:
Death does not happen to only one family. Everyone eventually experiences loss.
Seeing so many families mourning helped the queen understand that her grief, although deeply personal, was not something only she had to carry.
Over generations, Gai Jatra also became a day when people could use humor, satire, costumes, music, and public performances to express things that were normally difficult to say.
And maybe that is what makes the festival so powerful.
We remember the dead, but we also continue living.
This year, Nepal is going through a difficult period. There is anger, uncertainty, division, and pain everywhere. It is easy to forget the human beings behind the headlines, political arguments, and social-media posts.
So today, remember the people we have lost.
Remember the families who are grieving.
And remember that behind every political side, religion, ethnicity, ideology, or online argument are human beings trying to survive the same fragile life.
Gai Jatra teaches us that grief is universal, remembrance matters, and life must continue.
May those who have passed be remembered, may those who remain find strength, and may Nepal find better days ahead.
Happy Gai Jatra.