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Nepal To Integrate Pride Parade into Traditional Festival


Gaijatra festival X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

Two years after Nepal enacted LGBT protection laws, its capitol awaits the arrival of an estimated 1,800 Pride festival revelers to the traditional Gaijatra festival — the festival of cows.

Sunil Panta, the chair of pro-trans group Blue Diamond Society Nepal, is a key figure in the event proceedings All Headline News reports. He explains, “The occasion of Gaijatra has been chosen as it is the centuries-old Hindu festival when Nepali men dress up in women’s attire.”

Gaijatra is one of Nepal’s most popular holidays. Originally a commemoration of loved ones who died during the year, the celebration takes on elements of merriment and satire to help cheer the grieved friends and relations.

This year’s festivities will also include an HIV candlelight memorial, live music, and possibly the appearance of some Bollywood stars, from whom the Blue Diamond Society has received “positive response.”

“Nepal has made much progress on gay issues in the last few years, and we hope to spread hope and inspire others,” he said.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Daniel S
    Date posted: 7/29/2010 12:40:12 PM
    Hometown: New Hope, PA

    Comment:

    This seems like a very good idea. Rather than marginalizing the LGBT community it instead integrates them into a larger cultural event so that they can interact with the general public during a time when everyone is involved in festivities. It would also make it easier for closeted people to get out and mingle a little more freely than they otherwise might.

  • Name: OttoMad77
    Date posted: 7/29/2010 9:30:51 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    I love both India and Nepal and I feel they are moving along quite well, if not better than most western governments when you consider that we have been struggling for 50 plus year as opposed to the ten years that they have been out, and ten years is stretching it. Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur has a vibrant queer community, as do Mumbai and Delhi--there are even openly queer guys in Chennai. Of course it is not perfect, the hijra, for example, live horrific lives, so they admittedly have a long way to go, but then so do we.

  • Name: DEKe
    Date posted: 7/28/2010 11:49:58 PM
    Hometown: hino Jp

    Comment:

    Nepal is taking advantage of the current world climate of greater acceptance of sexual minorities to reclaim its original cultural of sexual tolerance, and good for them. Many other Asian countries would do well to follow suit. I have been to both India and Nepal and have friends in both countries. Indians often responded to a coming-out with disgust, while Nepalis with a shrug. Tradition may be good place to start to re-open the doors, but not necessarily a great place to end, since traditional tolerance has often just ended at tolerance, with little actual social advancement. I hope Nepal leads that part of the world in this regard; and at the same time get their government's house in order!

  • Name: Tom
    Date posted: 7/28/2010 8:10:45 PM
    Hometown: Cocoa Beach

    Comment:

    What an appropriate way to be inclusive. I'm very pleased to hear that Gay Pride will be included with existing traditions. I'm also pleased to know that this particular event already has a place for trans people too. I wish them well with the event and I'll be looking here for coverage.



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