Ghode Jatra being observed
Ghode Jatra, a festival of horses, is being celebrated with various programmes in Kathmandu valley Sunday. Nepal Army (NA) organises horse races and exhibits various kinds of stunts involving horses in Tudikhel on the occasion of Ghode Jatra. According to legends the festival is organised to suppress a devil named Gurumapa. Gurumapa was a devil that used to trouble children of Kathmandu valley. The residents caught Gurumapa and buried it in Tudikhel. However, the spirit continued troubling children in some way. So, with a belief that the spirit was still alive, the practice to suppress it by stamping it with the hoofs of the horses was started in Tudikhel. The government provides a public holiday in Kathmandu valley on the occasion of Ghode Jatra.