March 24: Fagu Purnima, popularly known as the festival of Holi, was observed with much fanface in the capital and hill districts of Nepal on Sunday.

This festival is also known as the festival of colours as people smear colours to each other and throw water balloons to celebrate the arrival of the spring season. The festival begins on the eighth day of the new moon in the month of Falgun as per the lunar calendar and ends on the full moon day with the burning of the 'Chir', a tuft of colourful strips of cloth tied to the top end of a ritualistic pole, installed on the first day of the festival.

According to the Hindu mythology, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to Lord Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction, Holika, who had received a boon from the God of Creation – Lord Brahma – that fire would not harm her, sat on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap.

But she was herself burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world. From then onwards, the festival is also known as Holi and is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment.

It is believed that Lord Vishnu had warned Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if she misused it. This festival is celebrated in the Terai districts on Monday.