Holi : A Joyful and Colorful Festival in Nepal

The title itself suggests that Holi means the festival of colors. It is one of the popular Hindu festivals that signifies the victory of good over evil. People celebrate this beautiful festival by smearing each other with colors and throwing water balloons (called Lola) at each other. It is believed that the combination of different colors at this festival takes all sorrow away and makes life itself more colorful.

We Access Nepal Tour & Trekking don’t recommend using water and throwing water balloons at each other. #SaveWater and throwing balloons might injure your loved ones.

Why Holi is Celebrated?

There are various mythological stories behind the celebration.

Death of Holika

It is said Holi is the day when Holika dies. It is a celebration of her death.

It is a mythological story between Prahalad and his aunt Holika. There was Asura King named Hiranyakashipu. He was Prahlad’s father and Holika’s brother. It is said that he was received with boon that he could not be killed by any person or animal, neither by any weapon, nor outside of the house or inside, neither in the daytime nor in the nighttime.

Due to this infinite power, King Hiranyakashipu became arrogant and started to instruct everyone to worship him as a God, including his son.

As people were afraid of King Hiranyakashipu, they start worshiping him as God except his son Prahlad because he was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. King was irritated with this son’s behavior and got angry as his son never worship him as God so, King Hiranyakashipu, along with his sister planned to kill his five years old son, Prahlad.

He ordered his sister Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and sit in the fire. Holika was boon with never getting burn in fire. But instead; Holika got burnt and the devotee Prahlad was not even in touch by the fire. 

From the same time, the festive celebrations started in the name of Holika by the people of Hinduism. It is also seen as the victory of good over evil. A day before the colorful festival, people burn their entire evils with the Holika in a pile of wood, grass, and cow dung.

Lord Krishna and Radha

Another fascinating story behind Holi is related to Lord Krishna

Lord Krishna was repeatedly complaining his mother Yasodha that all of his girl friends were teasing him saying Black One (Kale). And ask her, “why was he dark when his all of his girl-friends (Gopinis including Radha) were fair?”

One day, his mother Yashoda playfully suggested that he can smear the color on Radha’s face and change her complexion to any color he wanted. Fascinated by the idea, Krishna proceeded to do so and thus, introduced the festival of colors.

Cultural and Social Significance

During this festive day all people of different backgrounds be it poor or rich come along and celebrate and experience the joy together. It is also a symbol of promoting unity and forgetting the past grievances. There is an Hindi saying about this festival of color called as “Bura na mano, Holi hai!”. It means “Don’t mind, its Holi!” says a lot about this Hindu festival and shows the playful spirit it carries.

How is Holi Celebrated?

On the night before the celebration the ‘Holika Dahan’ is done which means people gather and light the bonfire. It is a symbol of the burning of the demoness, showcasing the win of good over evil. Majority of the people gather around the fire and enjoy the night singing and dancing.

The following tradition has a mythological significance which is connected to the story of the legend of Prahlad and Holika. Prahlad who is the son of Demon King Hiranyakashipu is saved from the fire who was a true devotee of Lord Vishnu. His faith saved him as the Lord Vishnu appeared himself in the avatar of Narasimha. Hiranyakashipu called up and took the help of his sister Holika to kill his son Prahlad.

On the day of the colorful festival, people of all ages gather in open spaces and throw colored powders and water ballons also called as lola on each other. Especially childrens love playing this festival as it gives them immense joy. People even celebrate this festival by spraying colored water and dancing joyfully to the music in the streets.

Everyone can participate in this festival; of all ages be it friends, families, or even strangers.

Where is Holi Festival Celebrated?

Holi festival is mainly celebrated in India and Nepal but in recent times it has grown into a global cultural event. It is main center of celebration in India; the festival is celebrated all over the country (northern, western, eastern and southern India). Mostly the style in which it is celebrated remains the same; loud music, colored powders and water throwing at each other and dancing.

Another country where the celebration is done massively is Nepal. In Nepal, Holi celebration festival is also referred as Phagu Purnima basically public holiday is given in this festive day. It is vibrantly celebrated in Hilly as well as Terai regions.

Holi Festival in Nepal

Holi festival is celebrated every year in Nepal on Chaturdashi in Hilly Region and full moon day in Terai Region on the month of Falgun or Chaitra i.e March. It is also known as Spring Festival, as it marks the arrival of the spring season. Mainly it is celebrated by Hindu Religion but here in Nepal every religion celebrated the festival showing a deep root of Brotherhood and togetherness.

In Kathmandu, the festival begins with the raising of the ceremonial pole at Basantapur Durbar Square (Kathmandu Durbar Square). It’s topped with colorful cloth strips, and stands there until the end of the festival.

Celebrating it in the Terai is slightly different from doing so in Kathmandu. People invite their friends over to eat the special delicacies on the day. Our neighboring country India also celebrates it on the same day as our brothers in Terai Region.

During the festival, people walk through their neighborhoods by exchanging colors. Kids spray colored water on one another with water guns. Throwing water balloons (called lola) at each other has become common during the festival. It is believed that the combination of different colors at this festival takes all sorrow away and makes life itself more colorful.

In cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Birtangar huge celebrations take place with big number of crowd. They smear colored powders (abir/gulal) on each other and throw water balloons while singing the chant, ‘Happy Holi!’.

Safety and Practical Tips for Holi Festival Nepal

• Don’t carry valuable things with you, it might get wet. Use a plastics bag for safety of your mobile phones, wallet, or any other necessary documents.
• Use your old clothes so that your valuable clothes will not get ruined by colors
• Buy colored powders without chemicals
• Wear shoes if you are going out.
• Sunglasses will be your best ally to protect your eyes.
• Be sure to apply a moisturizer in your body before going out.
• Celebrate holi festival in decent manner.