Gaijatra / Saparu | गाईजात्रा / सापारु (नेवा समुदायलाई मात्र) | 2081 Bhadra 4 | Hamro Patro

Gaijatra / Saparu

Gaijatra: Acknowledgement of smiles in Nepali society.

Welcome to Gaijatra, a day of smiles that forgets these jatras of separation and destruction and transforms everything into simple happiness and harmony.

Importance of "Cow" in Sanatana Culture
Probably the first essay written by many of us in student life was about cows. Not only the Vedic Sanatan rites but also the Indus Valley Civilization and in Bharat Barsa, the cow is worshiped as a symbol of special respect and faith in religious and cultural occasions in daily life. The Gaijatra festival is also an example of such cultural significance. This pilgrimage is very important especially for the family members who lost their loved ones in the last year as it is a special place of remembrance, affection, and closeness of the deceased.

Saparu
In Nepal Bhasa, "Gaijatra" is called "Saparu". The streets are ablaze with cows, cow-disguises, and jhankis with various masks. In Gaijatra, various funny conversations, jokes, sarcasm, and even stand-up comedy are performed.

Background of Gaijatra
Considering the means of fun and laughter in the procession in memory of the deceased relatives, Gaijatra seems to call on the bereaved family of the deceased to move forward as a necessary process of life. Cow and Jatra i.e. this day is also the Jatra of cow revered in Hindu rites as mother and earth. According to legends written in the pages of history, the people of Kathmandu Valley worship Yama, the god of death, on this day. From BS 1641 to 1664, King Pratap Malla's queen was very much devastated by the death of her infant son.

Although the king tried to explain the fact that it was a moment that no one could control, the queen couldn't overcome the melancholy. Later, King came up with a plan which continues as Gaijatra even after hundreds of years. King Pratap Malla called upon the relatives of the citizens who had died in the state during the year in which he lost his minor son to take a procession from the front of the palace with cows.

On this day, the procession was displayed in the present Kathmandu Durbar Square and the new exhibition caught everyone's attention. Seeing many family members who lost their loved ones in her memory, the queen felt that she was not the only one to mourn the death. As the king encouraged the people to include various jokes, senses of humor and acts in the procession, the queen largely laughed after seeing all these things.