Holi begins

Chir (pole) at Basantapur. nepalnews.com/rh

The festival of colours, Fagu, popularly known as Holi, began from Tuesday following the erection of the Chir- a pole at the premises of the Basantapur Durbar at the auspicious time of 9:29 a.m.

According to Tej Ratna Tamrakar, chief of the Monument Conservation and Caretaker Office of the Royal Palace, the festival of colours begins with the erection of the Chir pole from Tuesday and lasts for the next seven days.

The festival which is also called Fagu Poornima, would conclude in midnight of the next full moon day with the fall of the Chir at Tundikhel.

Chir were also erected at Mohan Kali Chowk and Dakh Chowk inside Hanumandhoka and also inside the Narayanhiti Royal Palace Tuesday morning.

Hindus in Nepal, India and elsewhere in the world smear colors and exchange greetings during the main Holi celebrations next Tuesday.

However, over the last few decades, Holi has been witnessing wrong trends such as forcible smearing of colors and use of dirty water in water-filled balloons, causing inconvenience to others. nepalnews.com pb Mar 08 06