Thousands of people today paid homage to those killed in the devastating earthquakes in April and May in Nepal while holding a colourful rally to celebrate Gai Jatra, a major Hindu festival here.
Every year, thousands of people who have lost a relative during the past year paint themselves as cows and walk barefoot along the streets as part of the Gai Jatra festival to make sure that their loved one has a place in the heaven.
Gay, lesbians and bisexual communities of Nepal also use this occasion to raise their voice for more rights and freedom to their community.
The colourful rally in downtown Kathmandu drew more than 5,000 participants, almost double than last year, as it was the first major event to be held after the twin devastating earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 20,000 others.
The annual event, also known as procession of cows, is one of Nepal's most popular festivals mainly observed in the Kathmandu Valley in the month of August or September.
The festival is observed next to the full moon day of Bhadra month mainly in the three cities of Kathmandu valley, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur with fun, humour, satire and entertainment.
The bereaved families offer fruits, bread, curd, juice, sweets and money to those participating in the procession.
The festival derives its name from the religious belief that the deceased during their journey to heaven, crosses a legendary river by grabbing the tail of a cow.
The event traces its roots to the reign of King Pratap Malla in 17th century.
The tradition has been continued in the form of the Gai Jatra festival during which people also give vent to rent-up feelings towards social and political anomalies, human follies and other contemporary affairs through comic skits, cartons and caricature among others.
Newspapers also bring out humour and satire supplements to mark the occasion.
Generally, the festival's day is declared as a public holiday in Kathmandu valley.
Apart from the Kathmandu valley, the event is also observed in Dolakha, Dhulikhel, Bhojpur, Ilam, Dharan, Biratnagar, Birgunj and Pokhara.
Hundreds of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transvestites paraded through Nepal's capital demanding that rights for sexual minorities be included in the country's new constitution that is in the process of being finalised.
The activists say they want the rights of sexual minorities guaranteed in the constitution and that an end to all discrimination based on sexual orientation.
