Holi, the festival of colours, is known as “Fagu Purnima” or “Phagu,” and it typically falls in the month of March. The festivities commence a few days before the main event, with people gathering to collect wood and dry leaves for the traditional bonfire known as “Holika Dahan.” This bonfire symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is accompanied by prayers and rituals.
The origins of the festival can be found in numerous myths in Hindu legend, one of which states the story of a demon, Holika, and her brother, King Hiranyakashipu. King Hiranyakashipu had received the blessing of immortality from Lord Brahma. So, he commanded everyone to worship and idolize him as a god. However, his son Prahlad turned into a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
Hiranyakashyap attempted numerous ways to destroy his son’s belief and tried to execute him. But, Lord Vishnu protected him every time. Once, he called his sister Holika who had an enchanted robe to sit on a bonfire with Prahlad in her lap. As soon as they entered the fire, Prahlad started praying to Lord Vishnu to protect him.
According to mythology, King Kansa sent the demoness Putnana to feed poisonous milk to Lord Krishna in an attempt to kill him. However, when Krishna drank the poisonous milk, the demoness burst into flames and Krishna sucked out all her blood. Due to the poisonous milk, Krishna’s skin turned blue.
As Krishna grew up, he worried that the goddess Radha would not fall in love with him. At his mother’s suggestion, he played a prank by smearing colour on Radha’s face to make her a match for himself. This prank became a way for lovers to convey their love for each other and is now celebrated as Holi.
Lord Shiva was in misery and disconnected from worldly events. At that time, Lord Kamadeva (God of lust) shot a love arrow on him to disrupt his trance. When Lord Shiva opened in third eye on him with anger, Kaamadeva burnt into ashes. On Kamadeva’s wife’s request, Lord Shiva later restored him. Therefore, many people worship Kamadev for his sacrifice on the day of Holi.
Nepal, a land of diverse cultures and traditions, hosts one of the most vibrant and joyous festivals – Holi. Also known as the Festival of Colors, Holi transcends barriers of caste, creed, and ethnicity, bringing people together in a riot of hues and happiness. Celebrated with great fervour across the country, Holi marks the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring.
Concerns Regarding the Holi Festival:
The Holi festival is usually a time of great celebration for those who participate. However, there are also some downsides to the festival. Unwanted incidents are not uncommon during this time. Due to the high volume of people on the streets, pickpocketing is a frequent occurrence, making it easy to lose valuable possessions. It is important to stay close to trusted individuals and loved ones during the festival to avoid any unpleasant situations.
It’s important to note that while some people may approach you and ask for your permission before involving you in certain activities, others might not bother. Specifically, when it comes to Holi celebrations, it’s common for people to directly throw colours on you without asking for your consent. Although this might be enjoyable for some, it can be an unpleasant experience for others. Therefore, if you don’t like this kind of treatment, it’s best to let the locals know that you’re not comfortable with it to avoid any unwanted incidents.
Although festivals are a time for love, friendship, family, and celebration, they can also pose safety risks. Many synthetic colours on the market today are not chemical-free and can cause harm to the skin and even lead to health complications. This is why some millennials choose to opt out of these festivals.
Many young people are now approaching festivals with an eco-friendly mindset. With the growing concerns around climate change, many individuals are hesitant to contribute to further harm to the environment. Bonfires, for example, have been known to contribute to deforestation and the extensive use of colours can lead to stagnation in water bodies and harm to ecosystems.
Tips to Make Your Holi Fun and Safe:
- First of all, find people to celebrate the festival with. Although you’re likely to find tons of people celebrating Holi in the streets, avoid playing with strangers. Instead, celebrate it with your friends or contact your travel company to find a decent event for you.
- While the celebrations tend to go wild and fun around Basantapur and Patan Durbar Square, we recommend avoiding such crowded places. These days some hotels around Thamel have started organizing Holi Events. Such events can be a better way to enjoy the festival safely in a trusted environment.
- If you’re heading for a crowded area, make sure to stick with your friends. It is quite common to lose track in such places.
- People are likely to throw colourful powders and water at you when walking around the streets. If you decide to go to a Holi event, it will likely rain colours! So, we recommend you wear old cheap clothes. If you are not willing to ruin your clothes, you can buy a white Holi T-shirt around Thamel for cheap.
- Since people are likely to throw colourful powders at you, we recommend keeping your eyes and mouth protected. So, wear a large eyeglass and a mask to stay safe.
- We recommend leaving your valuable possessions like your phone, camera, and wallet in your room. If you think you need them during the festival, make sure to keep them fully protected. Since people are likely to throw colours and water at you, make sure to keep them well wrapped up and carry them in a waterproof bag.
- Along with your eyes and mouth, you should also protect your hair and skin. You should put some natural oil in your hair to prevent the powder from sticking to your hair. You can even use a hat, bandana, or scarf to keep your hair covered. Likewise, we recommend you apply moisturizer on your skin before heading out to celebrate the festival.
