Nepal celebrates Holi despite Coronavirus concerns

Mar 11, 2020

Kathmandu (Nepal), Mar 11 (ANI): Hindus threw colored powder during massive celebrations of the festival of colour, Holi, in Nepal’s Basantapur Durbar Square on Tuesday but the enthusiasm was subdued compared to previous years because of fears of coronavirus that has killed around 4,000 people around the world. The number of people at the famed World Heritage Site used to stand high with thousands of revelers barely leaving an inch to step on. But this year, the numbers have plunged down. The two-day festival of Holi, which also is known as Falgun Purnima where colors play an important role, is observed first in mountainous regions and then in southern plains of the Himalayan nation. It falls on the Falgun Shukla Purnima, the full moon of 11th month as per the lunar calendar where people go around forming groups and smear vermillion powder and other kinds of color powders over each other’s face. Along with the colors, revelers, both young and old, also throw water-filled balloons at each other.