Holi Festival Color in Nepal

What is Holi & Why Is It Celebrated in Nepal?

The festival of color, Holi, is not just celebrated in India, but it’s also one of the major festivals in Nepal. It marks the end of winter as we proceed towards spring and summer. 

In Nepal, it’s referred to as ‘Fagu Purnima’. That’s because this color festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the Falgun month of the Nepali calendar.

Just like any other auspicious and religious ceremonies held in Nepal, there’s a strong belief on why people celebrate Holi. To understand that, we need to hear the story of the mythical demoness Holika. Let’s get into it. 

The Legend Behind Holi: Triumph of Good Over Evil

Long ago.. There lived a demon king named Hiranyakashipu with his demoness sister named Holika. Note that Holika had a boone from Lord Brahma to be invulnerable to fire.

These demon siblings were not very satisfied with Pralhad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, and also the son of Hiranyakashipu. Despite being his own spring, the asura-king Hiranyakashipu, with his sister, made a plan to end his life by setting him on fire.

Holika tried setting her nephew, Pralhad, on fire, which was clearly a violation of her boone. Thus, the exact opposite happened. Lord Vishnu protected Pralhad while Holika got herself burnt and killed during the process. 

This legend set a very good morale among the Hindus: no matter what happens, good always beats evil. Even though Holika was immune to fire, she misused her power to do something bad, which ultimately led to her death. 

Ever since that day, people started using colors to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. And the festival was also named after Holika, i.e., ‘Holi’. 

The Story of Immortal Love: Radha and Krishna

There’s also another mythological story, this time involving Lord Krishna and his childhood love, Radha. If we start writing about their love story, it would be an injustice to include it in a single article. 

But let’s talk about the story of Holi to give you some glimpses of their love, devotion, and passion.

Many of you might not know this, but let us tell you that Krishna had dark skin. Often, he used to complain about his complexion to his mother, Yashoda. He was always doubtful about whether Radha (who had fair skin) would like him.

Tired of Krishna’s regular complaints and whining, she advised him to at least approach Radha. A brilliant idea she proposed was to ask Radha to color his face with bright colors. 

Radha, who is considered as the Hindu goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion, didn’t hesitate coloring Krishna’s face. And ever since then, Holi is celebrated to remember this divine love between Krishna and Radha. 

Cultural & Social Significance of Holi 

Besides the legends, Holi Festival Color in Nepal is mainly celebrated to welcome spring and say goodbye to winter. The vibrant colors represent ‘spring’, when flowers bloom and the greenery starts while those cold and dark winters fade away. 

Moreover, the festival of color Holi even signify the vivid palette of Nepali traditions and heritage. It’s like every color represents different ethnic groups and people in Nepal. 

Regardless of caste and religion, there’s a social gathering, and Holi is celebrated with unity. It truly breaks down the conventional barriers of caste, class, age, gender, and any other sort of discrimination. 

Heard the Hindi term, “Bura namano holi hein?” It’s even practised here in Nepal, especially in the Terai region. It has a very deep meaning—in short, it’s an opportunity to ask and give forgiveness.

Nepal, where more than 62% of the population is involved in agriculture, Holi also provides hope for future prosperity. It’s almost the starting season to harvest crops and wait for the next season, i.e, summer/monsoon. 

If you’ve never heard of Holi before, this could be the perfect opportunity to visit Nepal and learn about it even more. It’s like the La Tomatina Festival of Spain, the Chinchilla Watermelon Festival of Australia, and the Songkran of Thailand. Yet, Holi is probably the most popular!  

How is Holi Festival of Color Celebrated? 

It’s obvious that Holi in Nepal is celebrated with colors, we’ve been emphasizing the term ‘festival of color’ throughout this article. Now, let’s understand in depth on how exactly the celebration is done. 

One important thing to note is that there’s a nationwide holiday during the Holi Festival. That’s not just in the public sector but even among private businesses. People take a day off to be even closer with their families, friends, and communities. 

Holika Dahan: The Eve of Holi 

Coming back to the story of Holika, there is a ritual done among a lot of communities. Although many people have forgotten about this tradition, this is a reminder to everyone about its symbolic significance.

Holika Dahan, also known as, Holika Deepak or Chhoti Holi is done in the evening of one day prior to Fagu Purnima. The ritual is performed after sunset. A huge bonfire is lit, and a pooja is also conducted. 

Lighting the bonfire is a symbol of burning Holika, or you can take it as—burning all the negative forces in our lives.

Playing with Vibrant Colors 

The next day of the Holika Dahan, people are all set to celebrate Holi by playing with vibrant colors. Whether it be for the triumph of good over evil or to remember the Radha-Krishna love story, people just take their time ot enjoy this festival full of joy and prosperity.

What’s more interesting is that each of these colors has a symbolic meaning. Learn more from the following table:  

People put colors on each other’s faces, just like how Radha put color on Krishna’s face. Imagine yourself meeting new people and befriending them by putting vibrant colors on them. Doesn’t it sound fun?

Face Painting

Besides playing with colors, people love to paint their faces with different arts and symbols. They show their passion and love for the festival of color in their style. 

Actually, face painting is just a modern practice that has been introduced in Nepal, mostly due to western cultural references. While many still argue whether it’s the right thing to do, it has, without a doubt, significantly boosted Nepal’s tourism. 

Gathering with Music & Dance Programs

When playing Holi: Festival of Color, people don’t just celebrate it within their homes and families, but rather organize various kinds of events within their local communities. There are big social gatherings where people enjoy Holi with music and dance programs.

In fact, many schools and organizations celebrate Holi even before the main day. This shows how excited the people of Nepal are when it comes to this spring festival.     

Concerts are held all across the country, which is great not just for private businesses but even for people to meet their favorite artists. This is in the cities. In the villages, small functions are organized so that people can celebrate Holi together.

Playing with Water & Water Balloons: A Concern Regarding Holi?

Another thing to note about Holi in Nepal is that people like to splash water balloons on one another. While this tradition is slowly fading away, it’s still practised among local communities. 

Even though the practise of playing with water/plastic balloons is less these days, people still throw buckets of water (or water guns) to celebrate this festival. While this looks refreshing and relaxing during the hot weather in March, there’s a big concern about this tradition.

Environmentalists are totally against the use of water and water balloons. Wasting water, especially in the cities where there’s already a scarcity of drinking water, isn’t the right thing to do for sure.  

Holi is rather considered the festival of color, and using water makes very little sense. So, we all must understand this and proceed to celebrate Holi in the best and safest way possible for our environment.

And even if you’re coming to Nepal to play Holi among the locals, kindly ensure not to waste water and rather indulge yourself with communities that play with colors. 

When is Holi Celebrated in Nepal?

As we mentioned earlier, Holi is rather celebrated on the full moon day of Falgun, i.e., Fagu Purnima. This means that the date of Holi changes every single year. 

Sometimes, the festival moves to the Chaitra of the Nepali Calendar, as its date is determined by the lunar calendar. For the Georgian calendar, it’s normally always in March, sometimes mid-March, while other times, it falls in late-March.

One thing to keep in mind is that Holi is celebrated a day later in the Terai region because of a tradition called Mithila Parikrama. It’s an ancient religious walking tradition in the Mithila region of Nepal, which falls on the full moon day.  

Since most tourists like to celebrate Holi in the hilly region of Kathmandu and Pokhara itself, we suggest the same. But if you’d like to follow a different approach with a more vibrant and energetic celebration, Terai offers a much different vibe.

So, depending on where you plan to celebrate Holi, make sure to be there a day prior. In fact, if you wish to celebrate the occasion in both regions, that’s also possible. 

Best Places to Celebrate Holi in Nepal

There are 77 districts in Nepal, and every place has its own vibe of celebrating the festival of color. So, the question is—where would be the ideal location to celebrate Holi?

We have prepared a list of the best places to celebrate Holi in Nepal. Check it out below, and you can also participate as a tourist this way: 

• Kathmandu Durbar Square / Basantapur Area: This is the heart of Kathmandu, where people from all over the city gather to play with colors. You can walk around the area and meet strangers who are eager to celebrate Holi with you. Be safe though.
• Bhaktapur Durbar Square: This has a similar vibe to the Basantapur area, but with more traditional and authentic experience in the Bhaktapur district. You’ll get the chance to meet and play Holi with the people in Bhaktapur, Kavre, and nearby areas.
• Lakeside Area in Pokhara: Since Pokhara is the tourism capital of Nepal, a lot of trekkers end their trekking in the best way by playing Holi. It’s a refreshing way to end your Nepal trip and you’ll even meet other tourists who spend their time celebrating Holi here.
• Janakpur: If you’re looking to play Holi in Terai, there isn’t probably a better place than the capital of Madhesh Province, Janakpur. You’ll get to witness a completely different style of Holi. In fact, you even get to be involved with the Mithila Madhyamika Parikrama a day before the festival of colors.
• Biratnagar: Another good location to celebrate Holi in Terai. You’ll get similar vibes of Holi that is played in India, afterall the city is close to this neighboring country of Nepal.
• Any local community: If you’re already exploring Nepal in a different way, indulging yourself with locals is even more fun way to celebrate this festival of Holi. No matter which part of the country you’re in, there’s always a group event which you can participate in.
• Restaurants and Resorts: These days, big events are organized in different restaurants and resorts. You can have your private space this way while also ordering your favorite food and drink. This is just a modern way to celebrate the Holi festival of color in Nepal.

Holi Foods & Drinks: What You Should Try

Besides culture, lifestyle, mountains, and trekking destinations, Nepal is also equally popular for the tastiest foods and drinks. That said, every festival in Nepal has something to offer.

Even during the Holi festival, you can try out different food and drink items from across the country (especially in Terai). Here’s a list:

Essential Tips For Responsible & Safe Holi Celebrations

After going through this blog, we’re pretty sure you’ve made up your mind to celebrate Holi, the festival of color in Nepal. However, you have to note that there are always pros and cons of every tradition and culture.  

While Holi may bring you closer to people and give you joy, there are certain disadvantages too. For example, the chemical solutions used in the non eco-friendly colors can lead to skin irritation or even eye problems.  

Besides these health complications, there’s a huge crowd, and the risk of theft and molestation increases. You (mostly women) have to be safe on your side as bad people in our societies can lead us to problems that we never want.

To make sure you have a safe and responsible Holi in Nepal, Happyland Treks has curated this Do’s and Don’ts list just for you:

Final Words

Now that you’re aware of the festival of colors, Holi, in Nepal, we hope you visit us here in our country and celebrate it with us!

Connecting with travel agencies like HappyLand Treks is a great way to have a safe yet flourishing experience. We’ll make sure that you get to experience the best Holi celebration, in either the Hill or Terai region, or even both.

In fact, here’s an idea of the itinerary that would suit you best:  

Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival. 

Day 2: Holi Celebration in Kathmandu.

Day 3: Sightseeing around the capital city.

Day 4: Return to your homeland or other destinations. 

The aforementioned was just an idea. You can customize your own trip to Nepal with HappyLand Treks and explore many other options that we have.