Festival of Colors: Holi Celebrated with Enthusiasm in Nepal's Hills and Mountains

Kathmandu. The festival of colors, Fagu Purnima or Holi, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm today in the hilly and mountainous districts of Nepal by smearing colors and 'abir' (colored powder) on each other. This festival, which arrives with the advent of spring, is considered an important occasion for sharing mutual harmony, goodwill, and joy. This ancient festival, celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Falgun, has always conveyed a message of brotherhood in society.

The cultural and religious aspects of the Holi festival are very interesting. In the Treta Yuga, the demon king Hiranyakashipu devised various schemes to kill his son Prahlad, who was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu. In the process, his sister Holika, who had received a boon from Brahma that fire could not burn her, was made to enter the blazing fire along with Prahlad, but Holika herself was reduced to ashes. However, the fire could not harm the devotee Prahlad. It is generally believed that the tradition of playing Holi began to commemorate the day when Holika, the symbol of sinful tendencies misusing power, met her end.

This festival gives the eternal message of the victory of truth over falsehood and righteousness over unrighteousness. This festival, especially popular among the younger generation, has seen increasing excitement recently. The Holi festival officially concludes after the 'Cheer' (a ceremonial pole) erected in Basantapur, Kathmandu, is immersed. Although Holi is being celebrated in the hills today, the tradition in the Terai districts is to celebrate this festival tomorrow, Tuesday, the day after the full moon.

Just like in previous years, this year too, the hustle and bustle of groups singing songs and playing with colors in the streets and squares is visible. The administration has tightened security arrangements to make the festival orderly and prevent unruly behavior. The police are keeping a special watch on those who apply color against someone's will, throw water balloons ('lola'), and drive under the influence of intoxicants.