By Bishnu Prasad Aryal
KATHMANDU, Mar. 17: Swoosh! Water-filled balloon flew like a projectile and burst. The coloured water spilled, drenching the target. The receiver arched back and turned - but with a smile. No hard feelings. It is Fagu, the festival of colours.
Age and gender were no bar. Children, youth and the old alike were in the streets daubing colours on anyone they confronted. Fagu has even crossed races and religions. Even foreigners seem to be joining in the fun of Fagu (also called as Holi), smearing each other's faces with vermillion powder and throwing balloons filled with coloured water.
Tourists, their faces painted in red, blue and black, were seen rambling in Patan Durbar Square, Hanumandhoka, Bhaktapur and Thamel. Although unaware of its religious significance, they found Fagu to their taste.
Fagu was celebrated in Kathmandu and in the hills of Nepal today. The week-long festival, which began on March 10, the 8th day of the full moon, ends tomorrow (Tuesday) on the full moon. In Kathmandu, the festival starts after a pole (called as chir) is erected at the Basantapur Durbar Square and on the final day it is pulled down and burnt. The people of the Terai will be celebrating the festival tomorrow as Holi.
"I don't know what Fagu stands for. We don't have such festivals of colour in France," said Peter Neau, a French national who came here a fortnight ago.
Little boys at Patan Durbar Square had painted his face in colours of green, red, yellow and blue and his clothes were soaked in water. "I have never had so much fun," said the 63-year-old Neau.
His son Fred, 30, an optician by profession, said that it was very rare to play with children in his country. And he has enjoyed playing Holi with the children. "In my country, no one has the time to do all these crazy things."
He thinks there is an association between children and the festival, although he knows nothing about its cultural and religious significance. They were busy taking photos of the Holi celebration in Hanumandhoka and Thamel.
In Jawalakhel, Roman Clavadetscher, a Swiss national, was throwing balloons filled with coloured water at people in the streets. His body was painted in different colours. This was the first time Clavadetscher, who came here nine months ago, has experienced the festival.
The festival revolves around the mythological demon king Hiranya Kashyapu, who did not like his son Pralhad chanting the Lord Vishnu's name. The demon king, therefore, ordered his sister Holika to kill Pralhad. Holika, who had won a boon that gave her the power to withstand the devastating heat of a fire, was to enter a fire with Pralhad.
But, miraculously, Holika was burned to death while Pralhad survived. The festival is, thus, celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil.
Mallica, a Londoner, who landed Nepal a week ago, hopes peace will prevail in Nepal in keeping with the spirit of the Fagu festival. She has enjoyed the festival this year, and hopes it will be just as much fun next year. She will be spending two years in Nepal as her husband works in an NGO.
"I will recommend to my friends and relatives to visit Nepal especially during Fagu time," said the Neau duo. "I will tell my countrymen that the Nepalese are friendly, smiling, caring, kind … and that food here is very delicious."
This feature news was published in The Rising Nepal, March 18, 2003.
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