Holi festival in Nepal

Holi is a festival of colors that denotes joy that creates good surroundings and that gives us good vibes. It is celebrated on the full moon in the Nepali month of Falgun after the big festivals like Dashain and Tihar. Just like them, Holi or Fagu is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal. Holi is a victory over evil, and even a non-Nepali is welcomed to enjoy Holi to throw dry colors and spray water. It connects from the heart to heart as well as creates a pleasant atmosphere to both participant and viewer. Both are blessed in this event. This year 2019, Nepal is going to celebrate Holi on Wednesday, Thursday, March 20- 21, 2019.

Background of Holi festival

Holi celebration starts at night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of a bonfire and pray that their internal evil is destroyed the way Holika, the sister of a demon king Hiranyakashipu, was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi in which people smear each other with colors. To color, people throw balloons and use water spray guns. On Holi, there is no restriction, anyone can be colored. Please don’t mind when somebody throws colors at you. It’s a tradition.

Play with friends, colleagues, neighbors, rich or poor, no race nor limitations. Its all about sharing joy and happiness. In Kathmandu, you can see lots of people with colored faces. It will be hard to know someone in colors at the time of Holi. On the streets, open places, parks, there will be street musical events. You can see the concert going on in the Kathmandu Durbar. It is a meeting point for those who love Holi or want to take photographs. Playing Holi, singing, and dancing, reaching in new places and using colors are the main characteristics of Holi and so are meeting with families, relatives, having fun, eating, drinking, and gossiping. You can wear white t-shirts, slippers to play Holi and keep them as souvenirs.