Kathmandu – The festival of colors, Holi, officially began today with the installation of the Chir at Hanuman Dhoka.
The Chir is a tall bamboo pole decorated with colorful strips of cloth. Its installation marks the official start of Holi nationwide, a celebration that lasts for a week. Today, members of the Mahananda Committee installed the Chir at 8:33 AM and put color on each other, formally inaugurating the festival.
Additionally, there is a tradition of hanging colorful clothes in various locations, including Pashupatinath, Hanuman Dhoka’s Sundari Chowk, and the Krishna Temple area in Patan Durbar Square, to mark the beginning of Holi. According to Gajendra Mahananda, installing the Chir symbolizes the victory of truth over falsehood, which Holi commemorates.
This year, Holi falls on Falgun 29 and Chaitra 1. On Falgun 29, the Hilly region, including the Kathmandu Valley, will celebrate the festival, while on Chaitra 1, Holi will be observed in the Terai region.
