The Ghode Jatra is known as the oldest festival celebrated in the country's cultural hub of Kathmandu valley. On the day, Nepal Army exhibits a grade parade of its cavalry might with various games involving horses. Likewise, another event takes place at the adjacent city of Patan where a horse is intoxicated and an equally drunk person clad in traditional Newari attire rides it.
The annual festival of Ghode Jatra which falls on the Nepali month of Chaitra, is being celebrated in the Kathmandu valley today with much gusto. Ghode Jatra takes place between March/April and a grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have much of religious aspects, a large number of people, even from outside Kathmandu flock around Kathmandu to witness the horse race and other exciting sports activities performed by the Army. Tundikhel is at the central point of the city. This ground is reputed to have been, in the former days, the largest parade ground in Asia. It is said that in the olden days the Kings of Kathmandu used to go to worship at the Bhadrakali temple in a courtly cavalcade following the Living Goddess Kumari. This visit could have been modified into the parade of horses and finally the horse athletics and racing contest as it is today, held by the army in the presence of the King or Head of the State.
