Holi at Borderlands

“Every other building is a temple and every other day is a festival’, this is a famous saying about Nepal that goes very well with the numerous festivals that are observed in Nepal. Nepal will be celebrating one of its important festivals, Holi (Fagu Purnima) or the Festival of Colors, on February 28, 2010 and the people of Terai will celebrate the festival on March 1, 2010. This is one of the most colorful and playful festivals of Nepal. Groups of people, young and old alike are seen drenched with water and covered in different colors from head to toe. This spring time celebration sees an outburst of youthful exuberance in which throwing colors, water and water-balloons (Lolas) on onlookers is also acceptable. People from all walks of life celebrate this festival with a lot of merry making.

Holi at Borderlands

This festival, that takes place on the full moon day in the month of Falgun, has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of the ‘good’ over the ‘bad’. The festival is allegedly named after the mythical demon Holika. Legend has it that there once lived a devil and a powerful king, Hiranyakashyap, who considered himself a god and wanted everyone to worship him. When he found out that his own son Prahlad worshipped Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashyap started making plans to get rid of Prahlad. He asked his sister, Holika, who had the boon to enter the fire unscathed, to assist him in his endeavor. Holika supposedly entered a blazing fire with Prahlad on her lap in order to destroy Prahlad, however, in a turn of events, Holika lost her life due to her sinister desire and Prahlad was saved for his extreme devotion for Lord Vishnu.

This festival officially starts with the erection of the ceremonial pole called the ‘Chir pole’ at Basantapur Durbar square in Kathmandu. The bamboo pole, fringed with strips of cloth representing good luck charms, is decorated with colorful flags. After the pole is put up in the street at Basantapur, the festivities and worship commences for the week, at the end of which, the bamboo pole is taken to a bonfire.

Holi is also celebrated in India with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal.

Expat Celebrating Nepali Holi