An artist performs the Lakhe dance during a procession of the annual Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival, in Lalitpur, Nepal, Aug. 12, 2022. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
LALITPUR, Nepal, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival, is a festival that is an amalgamation of mourning and celebration, which symbolizes Nepali culture in both grief and laughter.
The festival is celebrated mainly by the Newar community in the Kathmandu Valley to commemorate their family members who have passed away in the past year.
Children participating in the procession often dress as cows, which are believed to be holy animals to assist departed souls to reach heaven.
A girl wearing a festive dress participates in the procession of the annual Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival, in Lalitpur, Nepal, Aug. 12, 2022. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
A boy wearing festive costumes participates in the procession of the annual Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 12, 2022. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)
An artist performs the Lakhe dance during the annual Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival, Nepal, Aug. 12, 2022. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
Nepalese participate in a procession to mark the annual Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 12, 2022. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)
A boy in traditional attire wears the image of a cow head during the annual Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival in Lalitpur, Nepal, Aug. 12, 2022. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
Boys in traditional attire wear the images of a cow head during the Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival in Lalitpur, Nepal, Aug. 12, 2022. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)■
