SA: PARU Photo Competition 2081

Sa:Paru

Saparu, popularly known as Gai Jatra, is a unique and culturally rich festival celebrated predominantly by the Newar community in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The term “Saparu” is derived from “Sa,” meaning cow, and “Paru,” referring to the ceremony of paying homage to deceased ancestors. This festival is rooted in the belief that parading a cow through the streets helps the souls of the recently departed safely cross the Vaitarni River and reach heaven.

The origins of Gai Jatra date back to the 17th century when King Pratap Malla of Kathmandu initiated the festival to console his grieving queen, Bhuwanlaxmi, after the loss of their son. The king encouraged the citizens to participate by allowing them to express their sorrows, frustrations, and even satire freely during this period, turning the festival into a cathartic event for the entire community. This tradition of free speech and satire has since become a hallmark of the festival.

In Bhaktapur, the festival takes on a more elaborate form. The local traditions involve creating “Taha-Macha” (effigies of cows), “Taha-Macha” (effigies of deities like Bhairavnath and Bhadrakali), or children dressed as deities, such as Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. These effigies and characters are paraded through the city in a lively and colorful procession. Bhaktapur’s celebration also includes the creation of clay cow effigies and the participation of children dressed as deities in the procession.

Gai Jatra is not only a festival of mourning but also one of celebration, where the living are reminded of the inevitability of death and the importance of humor and resilience in coping with loss. The festival lasts for several days, with the first day dedicated to the main procession. In the following days, various traditional dances and dramas, including Khyal (drama), Devi Pyakhan (Goddess dance), Bhail Pyakhan, Maak Pyakhan, and Gaicha Pyakhan, are performed across different neighborhoods. The performances typically take place in the evenings, with dramatic dances like Ghintang Ghisi presented during the daytime.

Saparu Photo Competition 2081

Recognizing the significance of Saparu, Kipaagraphy Bhaktapur is organizing the Saparu Photo Competition 2081. This competition aims to promote the Jatra and engage photographers in capturing the essence of this vibrant festival.

Copyright:

PARTICIPANTS RETAIN THE COPYRIGHT FOR ALL SUBMITTED ENTRIES

Entry Guidelines:

• Participants may submit a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 images.

• Entries must be captured between 3rd Bhadra 2081 (19th August 2024) and 10th Bhadra 2081 (26th August 2024). This includes all the activities from Janai Purnima to ShreeKrishna Janmastami.

• Entries should be captured within the boundaries of Bhaktapur Municipality

• The competition is open to all Nepali photographers, both professional and amateur.

• Members of Kipaagraphy Bhaktapur are not eligible to participate.

• By entering the competition, you agree to abide by these rules and terms.

Rules

Submission Period:

• Entries will be accepted from 3rd Bhadra 2081 (19th August 2024) to 15th Bhadra 2081 (31st August 2024).

Entry Fees:

• The entry fee is NPR 100 per image.

• Payment can be made via Esewa or Khalti, as detailed in the submission form.

Submission Process

• A minimum of 1 images to maximum of 5 images per participant will be accepted.

• Entries must be submitted through the provided form: https://forms.gle/cwTCjxenwzEG9hGq6

Prizes:

• Prizes are non-redeemable for cash, non-transferable, and final.

Judging:

• The organizing committee and judges’ decisions are final.

Eligibility

Kipaagraphy Bhaktapur reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and remove any entry that does not comply with the following requirements. You warrant and represent, in respect of each entry submitted by You (“Entry”), as follows:

1. You are the sole owner and author of each submitted entry (i.e., you took the photo).

2. The image presented for judging must be 100% photographic in origin, meaning it must be captured using a camera. AI-generated images are not permitted, as they do not qualify as photographs taken by you.

3. The photograph must not be manipulated in a way that alters the original content. This includes:

   • No introduction of elements that were not present in the original scene.

   • No removal of elements that were present in the original scene.

   • No combining of multiple images to create a single composite image.

4. Basic adjustments such as cropping, exposure correction, color correction, and sharpening are allowed, as long as they do not distort the integrity of the original image.

5. Each entry must not contain any personally identifiable information, such as watermarks or text overlays.

6. The content of each entry must not include anything that could be considered a criminal offense, cause civil liability, or otherwise violate the law.

7. You must be a citizen of Nepal.

8. Captions for each entry are optional but recommended.

Digital Image Entries Specs

• Images must be at least 3000 pixels on the longest side.

• Images must be saved as JPEGs with a file size greater than 1MB and less than 10MB.

• You may be required to submit the raw camera file for verification if deemed necessary