Kathmandu is celebrating the colorful Gaijatra festival today, bringing the capital’s usual financial buzz to a pause. The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) remains closed, along with banks and other financial institutions, as the city joins in the centuries-old tradition.
Gaijatra, mainly observed by the Newar community, involves parades where families who lost loved ones in the past year lead a cow or carry its picture through the streets. This symbolic act is believed to help the departed soul cross the mythical river on their way to the afterlife.
The festival is celebrated on the first day of the dark fortnight of the Bhadra month and can continue up to eight days. Ancient beliefs say that the gates to the afterlife open only during this time, making it a spiritually significant occasion.
For investors, today’s holiday means no market activity, no trading volumes, and a pause in price movements. Market participants will return tomorrow to resume trading after this brief cultural break.
