Ghode Jatra

Ghode Jatra(Nepali:घोडे जात्रा) is a horse festival native to Kathmandu.[1][2] The festival occurs annually on mid March or early April.[3][4]

Ghode Jatra
Horses used in Ghode Jatra
TypeKathmandu, Nepal
CelebrationsHorse parade takes place in Tundikhel
DateNew moon of Chaitra Sukla Pakshya
2023 dateMarch 21
2024 dateApril 8

In the festival, a horse parades is organized in Tundikhel. The parade and competitions is carried out in the presence of heads of state.[5] Nepal Army organizes the parade and competitions.[6]

Kathmandu native Newar people mark the festival with a feast. There is a public holiday in Kathmandu on the day of Ghode Jatra.[7]

Origin

In the inner city of Kathmandu, whenever children disappeared, it was assumed that demons or cannibals did it. In order to scare off the bad spirits, campers in Tudikhel who had horses with them, were asked to run those horses around Tudikhel to scare off the demons. People gathered and fed the demons near the tree that is still located in the middle of Tudikhel. The ritual later took a form of festival. The tradition later changed into a national festival.[3]

See also

References
  1. Shah, Manawi. "5 Jatras to observe in Nepal". My City. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  2. Atma Ram Giri MGS 2016.pdf (PDF), archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-02, retrieved 2021-05-02
  3. "Ghode Jatra". ECS NEPAL. Archived from the original on 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  4. Board, Nepal Tourism. "Ghode Jatra". Naturally Nepal. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  5. Hardy, F. (2005). The World's Religions: The Religions of Asia. Routledge reference. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-134-93188-0.
  6. "Ghode Jatra being observed in Kathmandu Valley". Khabarhub. Archived from the original on 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  7. "Ghode Jatra 2022, 2023 and 2024 in Nepal". PublicHolidays.asia. Archived from the original on 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-02.


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