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Nepal Celebrates Holi, The Festival Of Colors

Members of a local band are playing traditional musical instruments, entertaining the crowd during the mass celebration of the festival of Holi, the festival of colors, in Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 24, 2024. Thousands of locals and tourists have gathered at the ancient palace courtyard on Sunday to mark the festival with fervor and gaiety. The festival, also known as the Spring festival, signifies the arrival of spring and the harvest season. Celebrated for two days in the Hills and Terai, people are coming out of their homes, smearing colors on each other's faces, and exchanging greetings. According to Hindu mythology, demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to the God Vishnu, ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahlad. Following her brother's instructions, Holika, who had a boon from the gods that fire would not harm her, sat on fire with Prahlad on her lap but was burnt to death while Prahlad remained unhurt due to the blessing of God Vishnu. From then onwards, the festival, also known as Holi, is celebrated by smearing color with enjoyment. There is also a saying that Lord Vishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)

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