Chir erected in Basantapur, Holi festival begins (photos)
The Chir was erected at the auspicious hour of 7:47 AM on Sunday morning.
KATHMANDU: The vibrant festival of Holi kicked off in Kathmandu’s Basantapur, as a Chir (tall wooden pole), adorned with colorful fabrics, was raised at the historic Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square.
The Chir was erected at the auspicious hour of 7:47 AM on Sunday morning.
The Chir, a traditional emblem of Holi, serves as a focal point for the festivities, signifying the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.
Holi, known as the festival of colors, officially commences across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley, with the erection of the chir on Falgun Shukla Ashtami in Basantapur.
The age-old tradition of celebrating Holi in the Kathmandu Valley spans from the beginning of Falgun Shukla Ashtami to Falgun Shukla Purnima, covering a period of joyful festivities.
As colorful rags were playfully tossed around in Basantapur, revelers exchanged smiles and laughter, painting each other with an array of vibrant hues. The air reverberated with cheer, echoing the lively spirit of the festival.
This year, the Phagu Festival is scheduled to be celebrated in the hilly regions on March 24 and in the Terai (southern plain regions) on March 25.
Traditionally, the conclusion of the Holi festival in the valley sees the three-tiered cloth, crafted on the eighth day of Falgun Shukla Ashtami, being ceremoniously carried to Tundikhel on the night of the full moon of Falgun.
