Festival of colors: Holi

In this 20th century every one of us is running after building our career and status. During this time we forget to live our life and meet our belongings. So, the festival Holi comes on the month of Falgun bringing all those happiness we kept aside during the run towards our career by bringing all our families and friends together. It is called as “Festival of colors” but moreover, it is the “Festival of Love” in which all those barriers between people are broken and live the moments with a care free mind. It somehow makes a person fresh of their daily schedules. It not only colors the people from outside but also from inside putting a soul in your life. The festival is celebrated in the Hindu continent from the ancient time and is followed by the new generations. It is celebrated as the farewell to all those bad habits as Holika got burnt and a revival of new energy and good habits for coming years. On this festival, peoples use colors, water gun, balloons while you will also see the musical programs being conducted.

When is Holi celebrated?
The religious festival is celebrated somewhere between the end of February and the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. It last for a day starting from the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon) in the month of Falgun. Holika Dahan, a day before Holi when they gather, performs religious rituals in front of the bonfire as Holika was burnt in the fire. And the next day is the Holi, when the people smear and drench with the color.

Why is Holi celebrated?
Holi is tied with arrays of Hindu mythologies but one of the most popular myths is that King Hiranyakashyap tried to kill his own son for worshipping Lord Vishnu instead of the god he referred for. During the practice, he even lost his own sister the demon Holika, capable of protecting herself from fire. But when the fire was lit, it could not make even a single scratch to him but the demon got gobbled by the flame. 
And another romantic story is that the Lord Krishna used to smears Radha’s face with the paint so as to look alike.
The festival is a farewell to the winter season and is also believed to protect the people from the different fevers which they get suffered due to the change of season. As a precaution from it, the people use organic colors made from the plants having a medicinal significance.
Orange: Flower of Palash or Tesu tree
Red:       Hibiscus flower, Madder tree, Radish and Pomegranate
Green:   Dried leaves of Gulmohar tree
Yellow:  Turmeric powder, Bael fruits, Amaltas and Marigold
Blue:      Indo plant, Indian berries, Grapes, Blue Hibiscus and Jacaranda flowers
Black:    Species of grapes, Fruits of Amla and Vegetable carbon are the sources of the colors.

How is Holi celebrated?
The festival is celebrated all over the Hindu continent which includes Nepal. On this day the people gather and smear colors on each other face. You will also see the traditional concerts being held in most of the cities including Kathmandu, Narayangarh, Pokhara, Hetauda and Dharan and are also broadcasted in the television. Throwing colors, balloons, water are the common practices done in all parts of the country. But, it differ slightly in case of Hilly and Terai region.
Hilly Region
The festival is known as Fagu in Kathmandu beginning a week before the full moon night. A tuft with the colorful cloth on the top of a bamboo pole of Chir tree is erected in the centre of the Kathmandu city, Basantapur brought from Basghari of Bhaktapur. The erected bamboo (Linga) is brought down on the evening of Fagu Purnima and is burnt in the celebration of Holika got gobbled by the flame. The event is called Chir Haran or Holika Dahan.
Terai Region
The festival is celebrated a day after the celebration in Hilly region. Matka breaking ceremony is organized in some areas at the junction. The young boys make a pyramid to break an earthen pot filled with full of milk, ghee and fruits hung in a rope at great height while girls throw balloons and water in order to prevent them from breaking. The religious custom of cleaning the air of evil spirit is practiced at the evening time by burning the symbolic pyres of Holika.
Dishes
You will find laddus, Guzzias and lassi being prepared with bhang being distributed among the neighbors.

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