Today is Ghode Jatra, an annual Horse Riding Festival in Kathmandu. This festival is marked by a big Horse Parade and acrobats by Nepal Army in Tundikhel, the center of Kathmandu. It is being celebrated from several hundred years on the fourteenth of the dark half of the Chaitra (sometime in March or April). Nepal Government gives public holiday (only for the valley denizens) in this festival. President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Ministers, High Ranking Officials attend the festival to observe the horse race, stunts, and cultural exhibitions by Nepal Army. Living Goddess, Kumari also make an appearance to witnesses the festival. Many people also accumulate around Tundikhel to enjoy the sporty event. Though I know it is being celebrated from my childhood, I never felt to know the actual myth behind this festival until today.
Legend reveals that this festival was held to celebrate the victory over a devil named Tundi who lived over the ground, today known as Tundikhel (the playing ground of Tundi). Tundi was a terror, which upset Kathmandu people with his devilish acts. It was believed that the clamor of horses foot on Ghode Jatra at Tundikhel keeps the demon's spirit away. As the devil may threaten to ruin the city again, the running of the horses turn out to be an annual horse riding festival and it is followed till date.
I happen to cross Tundikhel just before writing this, where the stage is set to welcome the top political and bureaucratic elites of Nepal.
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