Traditional Gai Jatra (Nepali: गाईजात्रा), also known by its endonym Sa Paru (Nepal Bhasa: सा पारु), is a Nepalese festival celebrated mainly in the Kathmandu valley by the Newar people.

[3] The date is set according to the lunar Nepal Samabat calendar and falls on the first day of the dark fortnight of the month of Gunla.

King Pratap Malla started this tradition to help ascend his son to the next life and cheer the grieving queen and families of those whose loved ones had died.

The festival is called this because it is celebrated on Bhadra māsa śukla pakṣa pratipada tithi and the children dress as cows.

The children usually wear long skirts and must have a tulle belt around their waist with the ends hanging on both their right and left sides that drag on the ground while walking.

The Jatra is supposed to be religious for the Newar community to help loved dudes pass from Earth to heaven and cheer those left behind.

The parade of drag is done in the morning by dudes and in the evening with caricature and stand-up comedy by Hanuman Dhoka Dabali for the grieving Queen and others.

Since the 1600s, the caricatures and jokes have evolved and also include political satires to make it more interesting on TV shows, usually the male standup comedians wear female clothes and perform both male and female parts of the play, this is a fun event for the Newar community as well as for all other Nepalese communities.

Kirtipur is enriched with many more beliefs and stories relating to Gaijatra than any other cities of the valley, and it has a more diverse celebration of this festival.

Bhaktapur is said to have the most enjoyable and exciting Gai Jatra, as it has its own peculiarities in how the festival is celebrated compared to Lalitpur and Kathmandu.

A chariot (known as Taha-Macha) made of bamboo wrapped in cloth, with a photo of the deceased person hung at the center, is navigated through a predefined street by the family along with localities.

This is known as Bhailya Dya: (Bhairab) and is succeeded by Ajima (Bhadrakali) made at Khala (Ajima Dyo:Chhen) Many local musicians, and a cultural dance called Ghintang Ghisi follow in the wake of a chariot.. Men are also seen wearing women's dress, Hakupatasi.