I was lucky enough to be in Kathmandu for the Gai Jatra, or Cow Festival, celebrated in large by the Hindu Newar people.

Families of those who have lost a relative in the previous year parade either with a cow, or with children dressed up in cow costumes. They are accompanied by bands, and much merry making. The festival is said by some to have come about to cheer up an old Queen of Nepal after she lost her son, and has got a little confused in the meantime. Some of the participants dress as cows (yes, I know - they bear little resemblance to cows, but have a paper mask perched on top of their heads with a stylised picture of a cow on it - just go with it!); others dress as Saddhus - the supposed Hindu holy men - they're the ones with trident "tattoos" inked on their arms, and dressed in yellow. Milk is poured into the children's mouths (and the few real cows' mouths too), and the crowd give gifts of sweets to the children.

Meanwhile the real (or should that be fake, as most of them are) Saddhus do what they do best, when they're not toking on a chillum, and scrounge the sweets and gifts that I'm pretty sure are meant for the children (forgive me if I'm wrong here). At Durbur Square there was a large collection of Saddhus and beggars, which I liked to think of as Saddhu Central. Great chance for a few sneaky pics though, without the usual demands for cash.

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