Holi festival being celebrated with gusto in Kathmandu, hilly areas

KATHMANDU: Holi or Fagu Purnima, also known as the festival of colours, is being celebrated in hilly areas including Kathmandu valley today. The festival of colours will be celebrated with fervour in Tarai region tomorrow. The festival, also called Spring festival, marks the arrival of spring and the harvest season. The first day of the festival is called 'Chhoti Holi' or 'Holika Dahan' and the second day is called 'Dhuleti' or 'Holi'. Holika Dahan, the death of Holika, symbol of the triumph of good over evil, is marked by lighting a bonfire and performing a special Puja to burn evil spirits. The next day, people enjoy smearing one another with different colours including vermillion powder locally known as 'abir'. [gallery columns="1" link="file" size="full" ids="20909"] Among various cultural festivals celebrated in Nepal, the Fagu Purnima carries its own speciality and significance. People from old to young age enjoy the festival with enthusiasm. Holi, one of the widely observed festivals of the country, begins on the eighth day of the new moon and concludes with the burning of the 'Chir' installed earlier, on the full moon day. According to a Hindu myth, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to the God Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction, Holika, who had a boon from the god that fire would not burn her, sat on fire with Prahlad on her lap. However, she was burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of God Vishnu. From then onwards, the festival also known as Holi is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment. There is also a saying that Lord Vishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused. Senior people believe that any premonitions can be avoided if "Tika" made from the ashes of the 'Chir' is put on one's forehead or kept in the house. READ ALSO: 

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