Photos: Horses race in Kathmandu to keep evil spirits away

The 'Ghoda Jastra' is an annual horse festival celebrated on the Nepal Cavalry grounds in Kathmandu, which marks the defeat of a Hindu demon. The president of Nepal, diplomats, top officials and civilians all gather to watch 106 horses and more than 200 soldiers display warfare techniques which are believed to keep the demon away. Preparations start three months prior, when a dedicated team of soldiers spend days bonding with the animals, by feeding and grooming the horses.

Updated on: Apr 09, 2019 10:03 AM IST

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Nepalese cavalry soldiers rehearse for the Ghoda Jastra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. Nepal’s president, top officials and diplomats gathered recently at army grounds in central Kathmandu for an annual horse festival that marks the slaying of the Hindu Gurumapa demon. (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

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A Nepalese army soldier trains his horse for Ghoda Jastra, a few days prior to the festival in Kathmandu. Soldiers race the horses and show off warfare techniques believed to keep devil spirits away through the pounding of the horses’ hooves. (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

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Horses from Nepal cavalry rest in a stable after morning practice. A dedicated team of soldiers spends three months preparing the animals for the Ghode Jatra festival. (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

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A Nepalese Army personnel smiles as she stands near a decorated horse during the Ghode Jatra in Kathmandu. According to a centuries-old tradition, people raced horses before worshipping gods with offerings of food and flowers under a tree. It has been 169 years since a Nepalese king designated the army to perform the festival rituals. (Prakash Mathema / AFP)

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Nepali mounted soldiers take part in the Ghode Jatra. At the Nepal Cavalry grounds on the former site of the royal palace in Nepal’s capital, riders spend months bonding with the horses. There are 106 horses at the cavalry and more than 200 soldiers take care of them. (Prakash Mathema / AFP)

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Nepalese army soldiers compete during the Ghode jatra. In the months leading up to the showcase, every day, the soldiers bathe, groom and feed the horses, which are raced and tested to check their skills and ability. (Navesh Chitrakar / REUTERS)

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Nepalese cavalry soldiers display their skills on horseback. Captain Ram Shrestha of the Nepal Cavalry likened horses to children: “If you love them, they will love you back, but if you abuse them, they will hit back like a bad child.” (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)

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Nepali soldiers make horses perform as they take part in the Ghode Jatra. On the day of the festival, the uniformed riders raced the horses on tracks, and showed off skills like picking up objects with spears while riding at high speeds. Meanwhile, the most powerful members of Nepal’s government and foreign diplomats cheered them. (Prakash Mathema / AFP)

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Nepali mounted soldiers bring out a human pyramid on horseback as they take part in the Ghode Jatra festival in Kathmandu. (Prakash Mathema / AFP)

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Meanwhile a child revered as the Hindu Living Goddess Kumari was carried out of the palace temple and brought to watch the horse festival. (Praksh Mathema / AFOP)

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A Nepalese cavalry horse is decorated for the Ghoda Jatra. Away from the cavalry grounds, the Newar community — an indigenous group from Kathmandu — worships the gods and feasts with friends, families and community. (Niranjan Shrestha / AP)