52 Places to Go in 2024
18 Jan 2024
Festival Trip to Nepal: March 2nd, 2026 – Holi Festival!
Celebrate life, joy, and the arrival of spring! Fagu Purnima, or Holi, is a Hindu festival observed on the full moon day at the end of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March). Every spring, people across Nepal and around the world celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, by joyfully throwing colored powders and water at one another. On this one special day—the full-moon day of Phalguna—societal boundaries such as caste, gender, age, and status fade away, as people come together in a spirit of unity and celebration. Everyone is fair game to be drenched in vibrant colors!
Holi’s traditions vary across Nepal, and their roots are traced to Indian mythology. The festival is often linked to the legend of Hiranyakashipu, a powerful demon king in ancient India. According to the tale, Hiranyakashipu’s son, Prahlada, was a devoted follower of Vishnu, much to his father’s dismay. To eliminate Prahlada, the king sought help from his sister, Holika, who possessed a magical cloak that made her immune to fire. She lured Prahlada onto a burning pyre, expecting him to perish while she remained unharmed. However, the cloak protected Prahlada instead, and Holika was consumed by the flames. That night, Vishnu defeated Hiranyakashipu, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
In many parts of India and Nepal, bonfires are lit on the eve of Holi to commemorate this story, marking the festival’s spiritual significance before the colorful celebrations begin.
Holi in Kathmandu
In the Kathmandu Valley, Holi festivities begin with the raising of the Chir pole at noon in front of Kumari House, Basantapur. The festival is known for its joyful revelry, where people drench each other in water and vibrant colors.
When to Travel
Holi’s date shifts each year based on the Hindu lunar calendar, but it traditionally falls just before the vernal equinox, during the full moon in late February or March.
Holi Survival Guide
