It is said that the custom of celebrating Gai Jatra started when
King Pratap Malla lost his son and his wife was grief stricken. So, as a way to
console his wife, it was decided that one person from every household in which
a death had occurred in the year should come before the queen. And seeing so
many others who had undergone the same circumstances and pain, it lessened her
pain as she realized that she was not the only one living with that sorrow. Since
then the tradition of celebrating Gai Jatra started.
