The streets of Kathmandu start to fill with balloon vendors, candy baskets all of the toy stores are alive and you can tell a big deal is about to begin.
In celebration of family members that have died over the last year the kids dress in outfits and make up of the Hindu gods and goddesses. The families meet in their courtyard "blocks" and then stream out into the slim alleyways and flow like a stream to meet more families that flow into the river of partying masses. The whole mish-mash is led by a couple of decorated cows that are important in Hindu mythology.
Sometimes family groups will combine their moneys and hire musicians and even entire bands to lead the procession. Everything from brass bands in uniform to groups of flutists and thumping drummers
I cant start to post all the photos (I took 1,600 in just one day) of the amazing, happy children in colorful costumes and the proud families that escorted them down the streets and boulevards. Though I think this photo above best demonstrates the pure excitement and beauty I saw the day of the Cow Festival. Its part New Orleans funeral procession, Halloween (trick-or-treating) and Christmas!
Parents loved showing off there kids and frequently would ask me to photograph them together. It was all a swirling hurricane of colors, texture, voices, music and even the rush of thunder and lightning during a late afternoon monsoon downpour.
Waves of children, parents and people just celebrating wove down the main streets heading to Durbar Square to listen to music and weave around the main compounds of temples and palaces.
Some families really did it up right and depicted their families as the Hindu pantheon of god and goddesses. Im not versed in the Hindu holy family tree but I know that the photo below is of a couple of teenagers dressed up as Shiva (the top dog) and his wife Parvati. This was a very special group because they had a big, well dressed entourage surrounding them and taking care of their costumes.
As the processions went on people would offer the children candy, treats of slices of fruit, and (below) a mixture of milk and alcohol (nothing too strong because I didn't see any drunk kids!)
Several drinking "stations" were set up down the routes through the streets where the kids could guzzle down this milk-n-booze drink concoction always poured out of these small kettles.
As I followed the crowds from the streams of people in small neighborhoods into the river of everyone at the royal palace I also took pictures of the spectators and people that would get caught up in the party. Beautiful Nepalis women, Buddhist monk with offerings, Hindu holy men and just ordinary citizen of the city of Katmandu.
Not only the worshippers, kids and families gathered in Durbar Square the bands took their turns and fired off a quick successions of sounds or even just happy noise as everyone walked by heading to the end of the parade .
……And I cant resist it. MORE KIDS in the parade with funky costumes, funny expressions and great faces.
At the end of the day just as the whirlwind of people converged on Durbar Square a monsoon downpour dropped in and soaked everyone and everything. Its a great warm rain and since just about everyone that lives here in Nepal knows what was coming they hunkered down and enjoyed the refreshing rains
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