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<\/a>\nParticipants walked from Thamel to Basantapur, dressed as Manjushree, Kamadeva, cows, and lakhe (masked demons), with creative makeup and detailed costumes. Banners called for citizenship recognition for sexual and gender minorities, marriage laws inclusive of same-sex and third-gender couples, and guaranteed political rights. Placards carried the faces of late activists like Manoranjan Kumar Vaidya and Anik Rana, to honour their work.<\/p>\n
One of the most popular moments was the appearance of performer Nikisa, surrounded by a large crowd taking photos. The parade, with traditional music and dance, received smiles, cheers, and applause from other festival-goers along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a more than 550-year-old festival to remember loved ones who passed away. Many GSM\/LGBTI people are not remembered by their families when they die. So, as one big family, we come together to honour them,\u201d said Sunil Babu Pant, Asia\u2019s first openly gay Member of Parliament, who led the rally. \u201cBut this is also a joyful carnival, and a chance to tell the government that we are still waiting for real change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sushil Poudel, chair of LID Nepal, said that while Gai Jatra is part of Nepali culture for everyone, it carries special meaning for GSM\/LGBTI people: \u201cToo many friends die alone, rejected by their families. We gather to remember and to show their lives mattered.\u201d This year\u2019s slogan also looked forward to Nepal\u2019s 2084 parliamentary elections, with GSM\/LGBTI candidates such as Numa Limbu (Chanchala), Dilu Buduja (Badri Pun), Sandhya Lama, Manindra Singh Danuwar, Surendra Pandey, and Devendra Bahadur Khatri (Madhu) announcing they will run for office.<\/p>\n Nepal is seen as one of South Asia\u2019s most progressive countries for GSM\/LGBTI rights, with constitutional protections since 2015 and the 2021 census counting 2,928 people outside the male\/female binary. But activists say many laws are still incomplete. Even after a Supreme Court order allowing same-sex marriage registration, other laws\u2014like the Electoral Act, Civil Servants Act, and criminal codes\u2014do not fully protect GSM\/LGBTI people or recognise crimes against them.<\/p>\n \u201cOn paper, things look better. But in reality, the law still discriminates,\u201d Pant said. \u201cWe are here to remind the government that our fight is not over.\u201d Nepal has many festivals and cultural traditions that welcome non-binary and third-gender participation, such as Gai Jatra, Ropain Jatra, and Maruni dance, showing that gender diversity has long been a part of Nepali society.<\/p>\n
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\nActivist Sanjivani Lama (Sandhya) spoke about the festival\u2019s origin in the Malla period, when a grieving queen was cheered by a royal parade. \u201cWe keep that tradition alive\u2014bringing joy while also mourning together,\u201d she said, adding that next year\u2019s celebration will be even bigger.<\/p>\n
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\nFor organisers, Indreni Gai Jatra is more than a pride parade. It is a cultural reclamation\u2014using public space in a way that fits Nepali tradition while raising voices for dignity, equality, and legal rights.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n