Holi - The Festival of Color

Holi, or Holli (Sanskrit: होली), is a spring religious festival celebrated by Hindus. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,^[1] and countries with large Indic diaspora populations, such as Suriname, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji. In Madhesh  it is known as   Faguwa (फगुवा) and in Pahad it is known as "Phagu Purnima - फागु पुर्णिमा" . The most celebrated Holi is that of the Terai region and these places may have become tourist destinations during the festive season of Holi, which lasts here to up to sixteen days.

The main day, Holi, also known as Dhuli Vandana in Sanskrit,also Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.
Holi is also celebrated by the people of Pahad in the major city of Nepal. Holi is officially referred as "Fagu Purnima - फागु पुर्णिमा".

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi (Dhulandi) was on March 11 and Holika Dahan was on March 10. In 2010, Holi was on March 1 and Holika Dahan was on February 28.

Some Images (Location: Telkuwa, Bara Nepal)

 

Exploring Madhesh in Nepal

The word 'Madhesh' is derived from 'Madhya Desh' meaning 'country in the middle'or Magadh, it was powerful state after fall the Brijisangh. Some scholars show its origin in 'Matsya Desh' meaning 'country of fish'.

The social groups that constitute the present day Madhesh are Yadav/Ahir, Chaurasia/Barai, Kaanu, Koiri, Dhanuk, Teli, Amat, Rajbhar, Kurmi, Danuwar, Karna, Jha etc. For many years the jungles acted as a buffer between Nepal and India. The eradication of Malaria and large scale clear cutting of the forests made the fertile plains heavily attractive to migrants from the mountains and especially from the densely populated Indian side of the border. The mainly uncontrolled migration from India has always been of concern to the Nepali government and it was reluctant to grant civil rights even in the second or third generations. Today, about half the Nepali population lives in the Terai and a considerable proportion of the Terai population is of Madheshi decent. The Madheshi claim that although Nepal nominally became a democracy in 1990, historical patterns of government employment being won by Khas continued to the present day. This has recently lead to demonstrations, the outbreak of violence and the establishment of political parties demanding equal rights, fair representation, greater autonomy within Nepal and even independence.