Gaijatra of Kirtipur (किपु सा पारु)
Gai jatra is the festival of procession of cows, with people in the ancient times worshipping the “god of death” on this day. Traditionally, every family whose family members have passed away after last year’s gaijatra must participate in a procession.
Tirtha mask with nine pairs of clothes is exhibited only when their elder parents died (Nine pairs of clothes includes Nine pairs puthu la: (choli), nine pairs of sari and nine pairs of handkerchief). In Newari culture, it is believed that elder parents became deities after passing away. The souls of the departed are likewise honored as deities.
Dhe Dhe Pa Pa Dance
Dhe Dhe Pa Pa dance was developed as the form of satirical dance. It is related to historical event of Kirtipur. During unification of Nepal, Kirtipur should be conqured before kathmandu valley. Dancha Budha of Kirtipur was made traitor by King Prithivi Narayan Shah to conquer the Kirtipur.
Hence Kirtipurians were very angry with him and his family member.So the tradition of performing Dhe Dhe Pa Pa Dance on Gaijatra was developed as the satire on traitor Dhancha Buddha and his family member.
The masks in Dhe Dhe Pa Pa dance was named in different ways.
This dance was performed ironically wearing the red mask (ह्याँगु ख्वापा) as the symbol of traitor Dhancha Buddha.
Mushroom like mask (म्हुक: ख्वापा) as the symbol of his wife.
Fish shape mask (न्या: त्वा) as symbol of his sister.
and two skin color mask (बापा च्या:) as symbol of his children.
In this view Dhe Dhe Pa Pa Dance was commenced more than 244 years ago.
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