The horse festival

There is a close relationship between horses and human beings since time immemorial. Horses were used in transportation and wars. Personalities like Alexander The Great and Napoleon Bonaparte were acknowledged for their riding skills. Several texts are filled with stories of horses. Nepalis too were renowned for their horse riding techniques. Cavalry was an art and with an aim to acknowledge this form of art the festival Ghode Jatra is celebrated in the Capital every year on the Chaitra Krishna Aaunshi (end of March or early April). This year it was celebrated at Tundikhel on March 30.Submit The parade Fine horses of Nepal Army and troupes performed interesting horse riding skills at the Sainik Manch Tundikhel. Musical ride, group tent pegging, cross country, horse polo, sword and apple, lance ring and slicing the melon were some interesting activities to witness. Women with riding skills were finely crossing the hurdles and bars. It was evident that people were holding their breath while watching the fire jump act. Dogs too showcased their skills of jumping through fire, identifying a criminal and jumping the hurdles. They were also seen imitating the same pose of their master upon hearing the whistle. Cycle race too was yet another extravaganza for the audiences. And the onlookers, who were trying to get a glimpse climbing the trees on road side, made sure the jatra got all the attention. Celebration myth Most of the festivals have their own related stories and Ghode Jatra is no different. “This festival was held to celebrate the victory over a demon Tundi. The demon used to live over the meadow, Tundikhel. It was a terror for the city dwellers as it satiated its hunger by eating the children of the locals. When the demon died people rejoiced dancing over his body and riding horses. It is believed that the clamour of horses’ hooves on Ghode Jatra at Tundikhel keep the demon’s spirit at bay. The pace of these horses will help to dispel Tundi’s spirit,” revealed Captain Kriti Dewan and Captain Akriti Rana of Nepal Army. According to another myth, “The kings of Kathmandu used to worship Goddess Bhadrakali and Kumari in a courtly cavalcade. And this parade might have been modified into a parade of horses with the addition of horse shows, athletics and races,” Dewan anticipated. The jatra is celebrated in Balkumari of Lalitpur too. source: Himalayan Times