Nepali calendar is marked with numerous festivals. Ghode Jatra on the list is the heterogeny of ritual and adventure. The celebration takes place on Chaitra Sukla Pakshya, no-moon day in late March. It is the oldest and only celebrated in Kathmandu, the cultural hub of the nation.

Ghode Jatra literally means horse parade and of course offers a grand horse parade at Tundikhel. Besides, a ritual ceremony at Ason Chowk and a rival festival in Patan follows it. It indicates the arrival of spring and is a reminder to turn the new calendar year. This year, in 2018 the grand celebration of Ghode Jatra lies on Saturday 17th of March.

Celebration at Tundikhel

On this day the isolated landmark of Tundikhel is busy celebrating an annual military pageant. Hundreds of spectators and head of the state at the pavilion attend this show at Tundikhel. The stadium resounds under cheering and reverberates under thundering hooves of horses. The finest horses are brought to Tundikhel.  The outstanding stunts and horse racing around the ground with a breakneck speed will increase ones excitement to the extreme level. In between this, there is a musical performance by army and police band and presentation of other skills like gymnastics, judo, karate and tae kwon do. Army paratroopers sailing down, boast up the event. Plus, a demonstration of rescue scenario wherein an injured man is rescued from a burning building by army men with the aid of a helicopter injects bravery and courage.

The legend behind the celebration

Although Ghode Jatra is more of the entertainment section of the year, it is based on some serious mythology. Legends mention that Tundikhel use to be the area of campers and the tree within the Tundikhel ground was where a cannibal rested. His main target was the children. People came up with a brilliant idea to beat down the demon.  They were going to suppress him through the strange sound of hooves. The campers ran horses around Tundikhel to suppress the demon and rescue the city from the evil grip. The louder the clamor of galloping horses better the suppress of the demon.

Celebration at Ason Chowk

In another side of the city, Ason Chowk is also celebrating the joy of this special day. The Newar community here celebrates Pahachare which literally means inviting guests. It lasts for three days. The celebration begins with cleanliness. The surrounding and especially the sewage cleanliness is the top priority on this day. After that, an annual chariot festival continues. Idols of God Lumadi, Bhadrakali, Kankeshwari and Bhairav join the celebration at Ason Chowk during the day. The palanquins of the gods face each other near the Annapurna Temple. This signifies their one and only meeting in the entire year. Married daughters and sisters get the special invitation on this date.

Celebration in Patan

The neighboring city Patan is also enjoying this day in a different and yet in an interesting way. Originally Ghode Jatra was only for the residence of Kathmandu, the one celebrated in Patan is a wonderful compensation to it.  On this day at Balkumari, a horse is made to drink copious amount of rice beer. Funnily an equally drunk man is to ride the drunken horse. The spectators try their best to frighten the horse into running wildly around the locality. The small hilly platform of Gwarko Domar at Balkumari is busy with family picnics.

The laughter, gossips, fun, continues the entire day. The melody of the traditional music and delicate smell of Newari feast everywhere. Also, the television broadcast of Tundikhel by NTV makes it a most awaited festival. All in all the celebration of Godhe Jatra makes the atmosphere so festive and delightful.