The title itself suggests that Holi means the festival of colors. 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 Holi 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 Hiranya Kashyap. 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 Hiranya Kashyap became arrogant and started to instruct everyone to worship him as a God, including his son.
As people were afraid of King Hiranya Kashyap, 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 Hirany Kashyap, 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, Holi 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 Holi, 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.
Holi in Nepal
Holi 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. Holi is also known as Spring Festival, as it marks the arrival of the spring season. Mainly Holi is Celebrated by Hindu Religion but here in Nepal every Religion celebrated Holi 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 Holi 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 Holi on the same day as our brothers in Terai Region.
During Holi, 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 Holi. It is believed that the combination of different colors at this festival takes all sorrow away and makes life itself more colorful.
Tips for Holi
- 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.
Holi in Covid-19 pandemic time
The Health Ministry of Nepal suggests people not gather in huge numbers to celebrate Holi. There is also a possibility that some Holi events which were scheduled might get canceled. Access Nepal suggests you to enjoy Holi with your closed ones following covid protocols.
Happy Holi Stay Safe Stay Healthy.