Holi Celebrated with Joy and Enthusiasm Across Terai Districts

Kathmandu. The festival of colors, Holi, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Terai districts today. Following the tradition of celebrating Holi in the Terai districts the day after Fagu Purnima is observed in the Hilly and Mountainous districts, this festival is being celebrated joyfully in this region today.

Holi is being celebrated today in districts including Nawalparasi (East Bardaghat Susta), Nawalparasi (West Bardaghat Susta), Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Udayapur, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur.

Holi is celebrated with special significance in Nawalparasi (East Bardaghat Susta), which has a large population of the Magar and Tharu communities. Holi, which involves smearing colors on each other, dissolving all forms of discrimination, and exciting everyone with vibrant colors, is considered a festival of joy and color.

Pandit Trilochan Bhurtel stated that Holi, which colors everyone in the same hue, has always been a source of inspiration for equality and harmony. "Holi symbolizes the victory of truth over falsehood, sincerity over deceit, and righteousness over unrighteousness, maintaining unity in diversity," he said. "Alongside its religious significance, Holi plays a special role in providing social harmony and excitement."

Bhurtel mentioned that this festival, established as Vasantsav in ancient times, later came to be celebrated under names such as Fagu, Faguwa, Holi, or Hori through the stories of Prahlad, Krishna, Holika, Dunda, and others. This festival holds its own dignity in promoting fraternity by abandoning discrimination and ill-will while engaging in revelry, music, feasting, entertainment, coloring others with one's own color, and playing the Dhol, Damphu, and Mridanga.

Although a public holiday was declared on Monday for Holi in the Hilly districts, a public holiday has been declared today in the Terai districts. Superintendent of Police Yuvraj Khadka of the District Police Office stated that a special security plan has been implemented in Nawalparasi (East Bardaghat Susta) to make the Holi festival orderly, safe, and peaceful. "We will take action against those who smear colors without permission, throw water balloons (lola), create unnecessary disturbances, engage in quarrels, or behave indecently," he said.

He requested that people refrain from playing Holi with strangers, play only with acquaintances and relatives, not smear colors against anyone's will, avoid throwing water balloons, not use chemical colors that can harm the skin or eyes, not drive under the influence of intoxicants or drugs, fully comply with traffic rules, and immediately contact the police hotline 100 if they become aware of any criminal activity.