Nepali youths dressed in traditional cow costumes take part in a procession during the Gai Jatra festival in Kathmandu. The annual Gai Jatra festival, which dates back to the 17th century, pays respects to those who have died in the past year, with their families staging colourful processions through town centres. These are traditionally led by a cow or by young men dressed in white with headgear depicting a cow.