People from all walks of the life celebrated the festival smearing colours and throwing water balloons and water-filled plastic pouches at each other. Along with Nepalis, many foreigners too marked the festival of colours in Thamel and Basantapur in the Capital.

In Pokhara, the Lakeside area saw a large number of people, including foreigners, celebrating the festival that was organised by local Restaurant and Bar Association. Tourists danced to the tune of traditional Nepali panchebaja and went around the town smearing colours to each other.

Police said the festival, which at times can be violent, was marked peacefully, this year except minor incidents, such as traffic rule violations.

The festival revolves around the mythology of the demon king Hiranyakashyapu who orders his sister Holika to sit on fire with Pralhad, his son and devout follower of Lord Bishnu, so that Pralhad would stop chanting the name of the Lord. The demon king gave such order as Holika would not burn in the fire because of a boon she had received from the god. Holika, however, was burned in the fire while Pralhad came out unharmed. It is believed that any premonitions can be avoided if “tika” made from the ashes of the “chir” is put on one’s forehead or kept in their house.