Gai jatra also called cow festival is an important procession of Kathmandu valley. It, generally falls in the month of Bhadra, which correspond to English calendar months of August/September. Although the procession has been celebrated from the time eternity, the modern form of celebration of Gai Jatra came into existence in the medieval period of Nepal during the reign of Malla Kings. The present form of Gai Jatra with humorous acts, parody, comedy and was started by then King of Kathmandu Pratap Malla. He made Rani Pokhari (Pond) in the heart of Kathmandu and build a temple in the middle of the same pond.

Newars, locals of Kathmandu valley celebrate this occasion with great importance. Every family who had death in the family during the preceding year must participate in a procession through the streets of Kathmandu leading a cow. The cow can also be human dressed as cow. However, there started tradition of leading a cow with kids in funny costumes.

 Pratap Malla, the king of malla dynasty lost his very young son. His wife, the queen was in great misery. To cope with the mystery of queen he came with a brilliant idea. King Pratap Malla started the tradition of cow procession with boys with different funny make ups in funny costumes. The boys even put tails and make up like monkeys and Hunuman walk through the city road to show people that the death is the truth in the life and everyone has to face it one day. The Gai Jatra tradition slowly developed into doing humorous acts including jokes, satires, mockery and lampoon in the Gai Jatra days.

Gai Jatra was regarded as the day when people are given such liberty to talk, point and satire the system, govenment and the leaders. This day every actor is free to speak their heart.