Fagu Poornima or the festival of colours, was celebrated with much fanfare in the Hills, including Kathmandu Valley, on Thursday. The festival will be observed in the Terai region on Friday.

The Fagu Poornima celebration begins with a Holika dahan or making a bonfire commemorating the death of Holika on the eve of Holi, the symbol of triumph of good over evil.

On Thursday, people in the Hills celebrated the occasion smearing one another with colours, including abir or red vermilion powder.

Among various cultural festivals celebrated in Nepal, the Fagu Poornima carries its own specialty and significance. People from all age groups enjoy the festival with enthusiasm.

One of the widely observed festivals of the country, Fagu Poornima begins on the eighth day of the new moon and ends with burning of the ‘Chir’, which was installed earlier, on the full moon day on Wednesday evening.

According to a Hindu myth, demon king Hiranyakashyapu who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to the God Bishnu ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother’s instruction Holika who had a boon from the god that fire would not harm her sat on a fire by taking Prahlad on her lap, but was burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of God Bishnu. From then on, the festival also known as Holi is celebrated by smearing colours with enjoyment.

There is also a saying that Lord Bishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused. 

Senior people believe that any premonitions can be avoided if ‘Tika’ made from the ashes of the ‘Chir’ is put on one’s forehead or kept in the house.

A shop in Biratnagar puts on display T-shirts carrying a message of national unity.

Youths form a human pyramid to reach to a clay pot during a Holi celebration in Tamghas, Gulmi, on Thursday. 

Foreigners participate in a Holi celebration at Lakeside in Pokhara.

Youths enjoy Holi celebrations in Bhaktapur.

A woman reacts after she is splashed with coloured water during Holi celebration programme at Godavari Village Resort in Lalitpur.

Revellers indulge in Holi celebrations in Ilam.

People celebrate the festival in Capital’s Thamel.

Actress Samragyee Rajya Laxmi Shah at Holi programme at Godavari.

CEO of Kantipur Media Group Sambhav Swar Sirohiya celebrates the festival with friends at Godavari.

A kid watches the Holi celebrations at New Road in Kathmandu.

People from the Tharu community take part in a Holi ritual in Ghorahi, Dang.

A Holi programme organised by Radio Kantipur in Pokhara. 

Post Photos: Sanjog Manandhar, Anish Regmi, Jitendra Sah, Ghanashyam Gautam, Lal Prasad Sharma, Biplab Bhattarai & Raj Bahadur Shah