Holi: The Unique Festival of Vibrant Colors
Amrit K. Aryal
Holi is a vibrant festival of colors that Nepali people celebrate with great enthusiasm every year. Also known as Fagu Purnima, this festival falls on the last full moon in the lunar month of Falgun (March) and is one of the most significant Hindu festivals.
This full moon celebration is a triumph of the victory of good over evil. This festival is celebrated by exchanging vivid colors and water with each other within a community.
This festival of colors is one of the liveliest festivals celebrated with joy and happiness. Every community in Nepal celebrates it in different forms. Let’s learn a little more about this unique festival of colors, Holi.
Evolution of Holi through the ages: Myths and Folklore
Holi traces its origins to ancient Hindu scriptures like the Vedas and Puranas, where it was referred to as Holika or Holikotsav. The celebration of the festival is connected to the story of siblings Holika and Hiranyakashipu, who were from a demonic family, and their deaths due to their son Prahalad, a true believer of Lord Bishnu
Since Hiranyakashipu was a demon, he was always against Lord Bishnu, but his son Prahalad was taking the side of Bishnu. He called his son a traitor and made multiple attempts to kill him. Holika, blessed with the supernatural power of being immune and resistant to fire, convinced Prahalad to walk into the burning pyre. Still, her overconfidence and ill thought burnt her into ashes, but Bishnu miraculously saved Prahalad. The people then celebrated the death of Holika, and this became the trend that is now celebrated as Holi.
Present-Day Celebrations
In the 21st century, Holi has become an integral part of Nepali culture. This festival is celebrated in Nepal and transcends geographical boundaries, becoming a global festival celebrated by the Nepali diaspora. The original-colored powder was called gulal, traditionally made from herbs, flowers, leaves, and roots of plants like Neem, turmeric, bilva, gulmohur, marigold, sunflowers, dahlias, and palash. These herbs have medicinal value and healing effects on the body.
However, due to over-commercialization, there is a flood of artificially harmful colors called Abir. These colors consist of lead oxide, diesel, chromium iodine, and copper sulfate, which cause skin allergies and may irritate the skin and eyes. This day is a public holiday all over Nepal. Attendants feast, dance, and sing. Children and adults devote this day to a colorful celebration from head to toe.
Holi in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other Hilly areas
In Hanuman Dhoka, the beginning of Holi is marked by installing ceremonial “Chir’. Chir is a bamboo pole ornated with clothes with colorful straps around the pole. In Kathmandu valley, the Holi used to be celebrated for eight days, till the full moon from the day of the installation of Chir. Whereas, in modern days, the Holi is limited to only one day. Children play with water pistols, spraying colored water on one another.
Similarly, in other hilly regions of Nepal, the Holi celebration is not different than that of Kathmandu, with slight modifications as per the geography of the land. The vibrant jubilant of Holi is seen on full parade in the hilly regions of Nepal.
Three ways to play Holi:
Small, thin balloons are filled with plain or colored water and are thrown to the participant. which is a bit risky act. People splash water and balloons toward passersby from the rooftops of their houses. There is always a risk of injuries in the sensitive organs.
Hence, this practice is being discarded by the societies. The water gun or pichkari (squirt gun), is filled with water and sprinkled on each other. This is a very joyful toy for smaller kids. The vibrant color powder is put on each other in full parade in the hilly and Terai regions of Nepal.
Since most of the major and small cities of Nepal celebrate this quite loudly, book on of the city tour packages to enjoy the both, the city and the festival.
Holi and Experiential Tourism 2025
The colorful festival will fall on the 13th and 14th of March in 2025. Holi is celebrated on the 13th in the hilly region and on the 14th in the Terai region of Nepal.
As the vibrant festival of Holi approaches in 2025, travelers around the globe are gearing up to immerse themselves in one of the influx of people on the occasion of the most colorful and joyous celebrations on Earth.
Holi isn’t just about playing with colors; it’s a carnival of love, unity, and the triumph of good over evil. The festival offers an exceptional opportunity for experiential tourism, where visitors can not only witness but actively participate in the traditions and festivities, creating memories that last a lifetime.
What makes Holi a unique travel experience?
Various activities that travelers can partake in during the Holi are what make this festival unique. Sometimes this festival is compared with La Tomatina of Spain. One can play with colors and water in local communities. They can participate in music festivals, carnivals, and street parties in different parts of the country. Additionally, they can be a part of religious puja and feel the spirituality.
Songs to play on Holi
In Bollywood and Kollywood, the songs of Holi add a romantic environment. Since the development of the Hindi movies, there has always been a romantic song played to enjoy the festival. Songs like Rang Barse by Amitabh Bachchan, Balam Pichakaree, Holi hai-Holi hai: Janakpur me Holi hai, and many more are played in the streets to play Holi.
Impact of Tourism on Holi
Positive impacts: cultural exchange, economic benefits. They use mostly organic colors and less water, as chemical-induced colors are harmful to humans as well as the environment.
Negative impacts: A lot of synthetic colors are on the market these days that are not chemical-free. Besides causing skin allergies and other damage, it can cause various health complications.
Practical Tips for Travelers
- Find a group of people who you can trust and feel safe with.
- Stick to your friends and do not get carried away with the crowd
- Be aware of pickpockets. It’s better not to carry much cash with you and protect your cellphone, as you can expect the water over you.
- Do not wear your expensive clothes, as the stain of colors will be permanent. Instead, you can buy white T-shirts designed for the Holi celebration.
- Color powers are widely used these days to protect your eyes and mouth from dust and color powder.
Experience this Colorful Occasion
Are you ready to experience a colorful day with a feast?
Pack your whites, open your heart to new experiences, and get ready to celebrate Holi in its most colorful and heartfelt form! If you seek a joyful immersion in color, Holi promises the adventure of a lifetime.
Enjoy exploring.
FAQs
Expand AllIs celebrating Holi child-friendly?
Yes, Holi is open to people of all ages. But be aware of the type of color and purity of water people throw at you and your child. Some colors may cause allergies to delicate skin.
Are we allowed to use our phones or cameras?
You can connect with your friends, family, and loved ones and take pictures for your memories. But as you will be walking among hundreds of unknown people, there is always a high risk of losing your valuable items. It’s better to hire a professional cameraman to take your photographs.
Is the colored powder safe?
we can’t be sure about that. As the color powders available in the market nowadays are made from harmful chemicals that cause allergies and skin diseases, it’s always good to make herbal and color powders using cornstarch and food-grade colors.
What is a Pichkari?
Pichkari is a water gun or squirt gun that is filled with water and helps to sprinkle water on each other. It works on the principle of a vacuum pump.
Will there be first aid booths available at the Holi Festival?
Yes! Your safety is one of our primary concerns! Multiple health checkup booths are set aside at every chowk on the celebration day.
What is the colored powder made up of?
The original-colored powder was called gulal, traditionally made from herbs, flowers, leaves, and roots of plants like Neem, turmeric, marigold, sunflowers, dahlias, and palash.
When is the Holi Festival of 2025?
In Nepal, the vibrant festival of Holi will be celebrated on different dates in 2025, depending on the region. In the hilly areas, including Kathmandu and Pokhara, Holi is scheduled for 13th March 2025. Meanwhile, in the Terai regions, the celebration will take place a day later, on 14th March 2025.
Is this Holi festival safe to play?
If the festival is to be played with carefulness and mindfulness, then this is one of the most refreshing events on the calendar.
When was the first Holi enjoyed?
As per Hindu mythology, the first Holi was celebrated as a way of expressing happiness by the people on the death of Holika, the sister of Asur(evil) king Hiranayakashipu.
Why is Holi called the festival of colors?
The festival’s main theme is color, which can come in different forms, from powdered colors to liquid colors, and in some places, this can also be celebrated with colors in the form of Fagu. This is why Holi is called the festival of colours.
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