Holi festival of colors being observed today

KATHMANDU, March 24:Today, people in the Kathmandu Valley and hilly districts will exchange wishes to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours also known as Fagu Purnima. Tomorrow, the event will be celebrated at Tarai. During the event, relatives and friends congregate to play with colors and water.

Also known as fagu Poornima, this festival has people throwing colorful powders and water at each other while dancing and chanting. The festival attracts individuals of all ages, including the elderly, young people, and children.

It is believed that Holi festival is observed as a celebration of the victory of truth and the destruction of falsehood. Dhirendra Premarshi, an expert on the cultures of Nepal, said that Holi festival has played contributed to minimizing inequality and discrimination in the society.
 

According to a Hindu story, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was dissatisfied with his son Prahlad's unwavering devotion to the God Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to murder Prahalad. Holika, who had a Brahma-given gift that fire would not burn her, sat on fire with Prahlad on her lap, as instructed by her brother. She was burned to death, but Prahalad escaped unharmed thanks to God Vishnu's favor.

From then on, the event, also known as Holi, is celebrated by smearing color with excitement. There is also a story that Lord Vishnu cautioned Holika that the gift she had received would be useless if it was abused.