JUMLA: Specticular festvials ; Gaijatra in Jumla

Gai Jatra; The largest observances take place in Jumla, though people observe Gai Jatra throughout the country. But the way in which Gaijatra celebrated in Jumla is different than celebration in any other regions of the country. The festival offers an opportunity to ridicule public officials by depicting corruption and inefficiency in government offices through satire and comics.

a satire to government and politician of Nepal not to think people as sheep's.

Today, the role of street comedy during the Gai Jatra festival is no longer as prevalent or well organized due to roof top houses at Bazaar and more people less space to celebrate.

Gai Jatra is an eight-day carnival-type festival in Jumla, Nepal, Following with different performance in each day they are;

First Day- Gai Jatra

a different craft of Gai (cow) dancing on a street during gai jatra.

Families who had deaths during the year and are intended to help the dead complete a smooth journey to heaven sponsor it.

Dancers of Gaijatra.They followed the craft with melody of drums all along the khalanga bazaar.

During the festival, Symbolic wooden craft of Cow with colorful dress and with the image of death one and cow on chariot, keep flowers. Hundreds of young boys, their faces smeared with mascara and painted as cows, follow cow along the streets of Jumla Bazaar in the Gai Jatra festival, the procession of cows. During this day they get chocolates, rice pudding and sweets from where Cow brought.

Second Day- Ropain Jatra

Performers performing with a things they used during during ropain or planting paddy.

Ropai Jatra is the rice planting ceremony and participants perform plowing and planting acts on the streets. Ropai Jatra is the rice planting ceremony and participants perform plowing and planting acts on the streets. On this day people cross dress (boy dress up as girls) and people dress up in different and curious way. Simple vulgarity is allowed on this day.

Cultural crossed dressed men dancing during Ropain Jatra.

It is centuries old ritual, but now a day’s people participate in terms to preserve this festival. On this festival, people dress up in women costumes, either traditional or modern, and their performances is the main charm of this festival. The performance is based on planting paddy. Thus, people enact like plowing and planting paddy in a street.

a crossed dressed dancing during ropain Jatra.

Third Day-Paltan Jatra and Mim Bashsa

Troops of paltan jatra.

Paltan and Mim Bashsa Jatra are celebrated on third day after Gaijatra. Paltan in other words Army and Mim Bashsa is known as “King Queen” Jatra. Mainly, the day, Jatra followed by two forms of act. One; the participant’s act like force people. Those people who participates, performs the parades like army. The most interesting part of this Jatra is the customs they used, the drawings on their body, the act how they do in the street, and the arms that they carried. Thus, Street Comedy is the main attraction of Paltan Jatra. The practical jokes, political satires, and other forms of poking fun and some simple level of vulgarity are allowed.

Mim dancing during Mim Bashsa

Second; Mim Bashsa dance celebrated. Some men have crossed dressed (men wear dresses of female as a queen) and some wear dresses like gentle men as King. Joker also performs on a day. The melodious music’s and dance of participants is the main attractions of the Mim Bashsa. The participants can wear local customs and performs the act.

Fourth Bairagi Jatra or Hunting Baag Bhalu Jatra

The Bairagi or Hunting Baag Bhalu (Tiger and Bear) Jatra celebrated on fourth day after Gaijatra. The performance on a day is like a performance made on Paltan and Mim Bashsa Jatra.

Raute performer

Two forms of act are continuing on the day Bairagi Jatra as well;

One; the participant’s act like force people. Those people who participates, performs the parades like army. The most interesting part of this Jatra is the customs they used, the drawings on their body, the act how they do in the street, and the arms that they carried. Thus, Street Comedy is the main attraction of Paltan Jatra.

Act about pregnancy during bairagi Jatra.

Mim dancing during bairagi jatra

The main attraction of the Bairagi Jatra or Hunting Baag Bhalu Jatra is the acts performs by the Tiger and Bear on the day. They carried the dancers or any one who is on the street. They just tried to bother the people by carrying them from one place to another places. At last, they were hunted. There was a procedure of hunting Tiger and Bear. Tiger hunted in front of Chandanth and Bhairavnath Temple by the commander of soldiers who act on the day and Bear was hunted by Dhami (Healer or Priest) near to Krishna Temple.

This is also the day to make satire to the local people, community as well as to the government.