Kathmandu, 3 Mar: The festival of colors, Holi, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm today in the districts of the Terai region. According to tradition, Holi is observed in the Terai on the day following the celebration of Fagu Purnima in the Himalayan and hilly districts.
Today, Holi is being celebrated in districts including Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West), Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Udayapur, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur.
In Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), where there is a dense population of Magar and Tharu communities, Holi is celebrated with special importance. The festival is regarded as a joyous and colorful occasion that symbolically burns away all forms of discrimination and fills people with excitement and harmony by smearing colors on one another.
Pandit Trilochan Bhurtel said that Holi has long been a source of inspiration for equality and social harmony, as it colors everyone in the same shade. “Holi symbolizes the victory of truth over falsehood, sincerity over deceit, and righteousness over injustice,” he said. “Along with its religious significance, Holi also plays a vital role in promoting social harmony and enthusiasm.”
He added that the festival, which was established in ancient times as a spring celebration (Basantotsav), gradually came to be observed under various names such as Fagu, Phaguwa, Holi, and Hori through legends associated with Prahlad, Krishna, Holika, and Dhundha. The festival holds its own dignity with celebrations that include music, dancing, feasting, entertainment, and smearing colors, while playing drums such as the dhol, damphu, and mridanga, fostering brotherhood and abandoning differences and ill feelings.
While a public holiday was observed on Monday in the hilly districts for Holi, the Terai districts have a public holiday today.
Superintendent of Police Yuvraj Khadka of the District Police Office in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) said that a special security plan has been implemented to ensure the festival is celebrated in a dignified, safe, and peaceful manner. “Those found smearing colors without consent, throwing water balloons, creating unnecessary disturbances, engaging in fights, or behaving indecently will be brought under legal action,” he said.
He also urged people not to play Holi with strangers, to celebrate only with close friends and relatives, not to apply colors against anyone’s will, to avoid throwing water balloons, to refrain from using chemical colors that may harm the skin and eyes, not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to strictly follow traffic rules, and to immediately contact the police hotline at 100 if they become aware of any potential criminal activity.
