Kathmandu, February 24
A three-tiered chir decorated with colourful flags has been erected at Basantapur in Kathmandu, marking the formal commencement of the Holi festival of colours from today.
According to tradition, the Fagu or Holi festival is considered to begin nationwide after the chir is raised on the day of Falgun Shukla Ashtami to the south of the Gaddi Baithak inside the Hanumandhoka Durbar complex at Basantapur.
Following this custom, members of the Manandhar community erected the flag-adorned chir on Tuesday morning. They also applied abir (coloured powder) to one another, announcing the start of the festival.
On the same day, Holi is also marked by hanging colourful pieces of cloth at Pashupati, Sundari Chowk of Hanumandhoka Durbar, and the premises of the Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur.
This year, the main days of Holi fall on Falgun 18 and 19. A public holiday has been declared on Falgun 18 in the Himalayan and hilly districts, and on Falgun 19 in the Tarai/Madhesh districts.
On the occasion of the chir erection at Basantapur Durbar Square, a team from the Nepali Army played ceremonial music and fired gun salutes to celebrate the event.
Locals gathered at the Basantapur Durbar area to witness the ceremony and celebrated by smearing abir on each other.
