The Fagu festival or Holi was celebrated in Hilly districts including Kathmandu Valley on Thursday by smearing abeer (red vermilion powder) and throwing color and water-filled balloons at each other.
An important festival of the Nepalese people, Holi begins on the eighth day of the new moon and ends with the burning of the "Chir´, which was installed earlier, on the full moon day.
According to cultural expert, Satya Mohan Joshi, the festival has been linked with the burning of Holika.
The festival revolves around the mythology of the demon king Hiranya Kashyapu ordering his sister Holika to enter a fire with Pralhad, son of the demon king and a devout follower of Lord Bishnu, in her lap so that Pralhad would stop chanting the name of the Lord, he said.
The catch was that Holika wouldn´t burn in the fire because of a boon she had received from god. But it so happened that the fire burnt Holika whereas Pralhad remained unharmed and came out of the fire still chanting the name of god.
Then onwards, the festival is being celebrated by smearing colour in enjoyment.
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There is also a saying that Lord Bishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused.
Elders believe that any premonitions can be avoided if "Tika" made from the ashes of the ´Chir´ is put on one´s forehead or kept in the house.
Revelry in the form of pelting pedestrians with water-filled balloons from the upper windows of houses usually marks the festival.
