Spring has knocked on the door and mercury is on the rise, and Nepal is all ready to welcome one of its most colorful and vibrant festivals – Holi. The “Festival of Colours” Holi stands at the threshold with an unimaginable passion and zeal for celebration in the entire length and width of India and filling the skies with music and sounds to live and enjoy.
Holika Dahan, puja by fire, and Rangwali Holi, the color day of Holi are two practices that mingle in with each other.
Significance
It is celebration that is enjoyed as the victory of good over evil, it is an inversion of the story of Prahlad and Holika. Prahlad was one of the disciples of Vishnu and brother to demon king Hiranyakashipu, who he wanted to be adored. Prahlad never committed his evil acts, when his fire-immortal aunt Holika attempted to burn him alive by casting him into the fire. Prahlad remained unharmed by all the piety and burned Holika in the fire. It is the triumph of good over evil, which has been kept in mind during the celebration of Holi. It was not only a religious celebration but a welcome celebration because the spring season since there was prosperity and hope. It was harvesting season for the farmer and therefore the fertility of nature. It is Holi colour time when one can witness the colored face of the fertility of nature. Holi festival of Nepal
Holika dahan: Rites and traditions
Every year, weeks before Holi, Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi is celebrated on the same holy date. Thousands of devotees visit the site to conduct the rituals, cleanse themselves, recite mantras, and ignite the fire to drive away evil forces and evil spirits. Dry leaves, wood shavings, and firewood are collected in advance on the possibility that they would be included in the wood pile for the bonfire. Paranuts, breakfast cereals, and candies are being thrown into the flames in a display of religiosity and piety.
Round dances and fire songs have also been performed. The holika ritual also implies that religion is powerful and predominant in a manner that it can conquer evil.
Rangwali
The Rangwali Holi is a colorful celebration. It’s a social day and a colored day. In this day, boys, girls, men, and women of any age take over the roadways and enjoy showering one another with rang (dry colors) and water pistol colors. Water bombs, pichkaris (water guns), and paint-colored buckets are some of the enjoyments of this celebration.
Nepal is also weathered and scented as a Holi festival. They stretch along the Kathmandu highway to hill towns but are sweet and domestic.
Best places to enjoy Holi in Nepal
Kathmandu City, Bhaktapur suburb, and Patan are the best places to see Holi coloring. Basantapur Durbar Square and Thamel streets are turned into music, dance, and color platforms. Immigrants and foreigners, all are welcomed with love, and the celebration is enjoyed in a color and waterway.
Pokhara, one-star lake, and Holi is being celebrated differently. Phewa Lake Festival and lake festival, live show, and celebration are being celebrated. Adventure enthusiasts celebrate Holi paragliding, which is a memory to cherish for a lifetime.
Terai region (Tersi Holi)
Terai belt urbanization of Nepalgunj, Janakpur, and Birgunj gives Holi the form of ‘Tersi Holi’, which looks like Indian and Nepali traditions because one form of Indian and Nepali culture prevails. Tersi Holi is flavored with painted procession, folk song, and social conclave.
Hilly regions (Hilly Holi)
Nepal Holi – Hilly Districts Kathmandu, Dhankuta & Pokhara Celebrate Holi in the traditional and serene way, they also call it ‘Hilly Holi’ which is the original native traditional culture. They celebrate the festival with their own Native Holi Songs and celebrate using locally prepared homemade material.
Because the herbal color in the form of herbs and flowers is used. The specialty of Hilly Holi reflects the nature-centric culture of the place.
Cultural harmony and celebration
Thrills Nepal’s Hindu festival but there is no religious and cultural discrimination in Holi, everyone participates in this festival. This is the festival when we forget our differences and live in harmony. All those traditional delicacies like gujiya (sweet dumpling), malpua (fritter pancake like), thandai (spiced milk drink) are being made and the preparations have started with boyhood pals and cousins.
Rejoicing and delightful festival
Holi is a color festival more than a festival. Amdi the peace of Kathmandu streets, Pokhara lakes, or the Terai, this festival brings loving people together again who are connected by love. In tourist locations like Basantapur, Thamel, and Lakeside Pokhara, they celebrate the festival independently and without any restrictions.
In rural villages and traditional ones, homestay is arranged under which the tourists have a chance to enjoy local fairs. Holi is a Nepali and a foreigner’s celebration beyond any ray of doubt objectionable and foreign. It’s one tradition that is an effective Nepali cultural heritage.
