Emails from Nepal usually bare bad tidings.  But today came good news from the Blue Diamond Society (BDS) – the fourth Gay Pride, or Gai Jatara BDS Pride Festival to give it its correct title, in Kathmandu is set for August 20.

This annual festival has become one of BDS’ premier events and draws crowds of local as well as tourists, to join in the fun and enjoyment of the festivities.

“The festival of Gai Jatra is one of the oldest and most unusual of the many holidays celebrated by the Hindus/Buddhists of Kathmandu Valley,” writes Sunil Pant, Nepal’s leading GLBT activist and founder of BDS.

“Some say the custom goes back more than a millennium, to the time of the Licchavi kings.  Falling on the day after Janai Purnima, the full moon day of August, Gai Jatra is a day for remembering those who have died in the past year,” he explained.

“In addition to praying for their departed loved ones, family and friends of the deceased commemorate them in great processions, which wind their way through the streets of the ancient Newar towns of Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.

“Despite its associations with the dead, the festival procession is not a dour or solemn event. In fact, there is a great deal of merry-making connected with it.  Many of the participants wear outlandish costumes.  Traditionally, a good number of the young Newar men in the procession dress in women's clothing.  Over the centuries, the Gai Jatra Festival developed a second purpose.

“In the days when political expression of any kind was outlawed, Gai Jatra was the day when ordinary citizens could vent their frustrations through political and social satire, without fear of reprisal from the rulers.

Given this history, Gai Jatra seemed to be a ready-made occasion for the Blue Diamond Society, the Nepalese GLBT association, to stage Nepal’s inaugural Pride march.

Kathmandu Pride 2005 timetable:

12:00 noon:  Gathering at Tridevi Marg, front Of Sanchiya Kosh Building in Thamel.

12:05pm:  The colourful and light-hearted Pride Parade starts and proceeds through the capital’s  tourist quarter of Thamel.  From Thamel, will wind through the heart of the old city, passing through Thahity, Asan Bazaar and Indrachowk, and Hanuman Dhoka, the palace square of Kathmandu.   The thems this year is “Peace and Harmony”.

“The parade will feature a highly decorated musical band, groups of walking performers plus costumed marchers representing various queers, friends, family and queer-friendly groups with Musical Hangama, colourful carnival,” said Pant. 

In addition there will be a massive condom promotion and distribution together with HIV/AIDS/safe sex leaflets.

“We also have a special candlelit memorial in Hunuman Dhoka Durbar Square for those who died in the past year because of violence or AIDS,” he added.

■  For those readers in Nepal (and we know we have some), please phone Blue Diamond Society on 01 444 3350 or 01 444 5147 for further information.  From outside Nepal, phone +977 1 444 3350 or  +977 1 444 5147.  The BDS offers "drop-in" facilities ranging from safe sex/ HIV/AIDS advice through to computer training and screenings of foreign movies and TV programmes with an GLBT theme.  The society is located at Shiv Bhakta Marg-344,  Khursani Tar, Lazimpat,  Kathmandu and welcomes tourists visiting the city.

LINKS

Blue Diamond Society website
Blue Diamond Weekly online edition
 

14 July 2005