The gai jatra festival

         This is a brief introduction of the Gai jatra festival celebrates in Bhaktapur, which usually fall in Bhadra. The gai represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, and guides the souls of the departed to the gates of the Netherworld.

In Hinduism, a cow is regarded as the most venerated among all the domestic animals. It is believed that the cow, revered as a holy animal by Hindus, will help the deceased relative's journey to heaven. Gaijatra is a healthy festival which enables the people to accept the reality of death and to prepare themselves for life after death. Those who have experienced the death of close ones during the past year share their sorrow and fake comfort in the fact that the gai has safely transported the departed souls on their afterlife journey. According to Hinduism, "whatever a man does in his life is a preparation leading to a good life after death".