Holi – Festival of Colors

I have visited so many new places since we started traveling the world and I am always excited to arrive and find out what all there is to see and do. I can’t even count the number of times I have been some place new and found out that I had just missed their biggest holiday, festival, or celebration of the year. This is always such a disappointing feeling. So I was very excited to learn that we would be in Pokhara, Nepal for the Holi Festival this year.

Originating from ancient Hindu mythology and philosophy, Holi is a festival of colors where people splash each other with bright colors to symbolize the victory of good over evil. These bright colors symbolize life, and coloring each other gives life to our wishes, making Holi a festival celebrating life, love, and passion.

A few days before the festival I noticed vendors had started selling “Happy Holi” tee shirts, and we quickly bought two. You need to either buy one of these very inexpensive tee shirts to wear on festival day, or have a shirt you don’t care about any more because the colors you get splashed with do not really wash out. I also had some travel pants that were on their last leg that I was also willing to sacrifice for the festival. 

We love Nepal and the people here. During Holi, their kind and hospitable nature really shined through. I don’t think I have ever been in such a huge crowd where literally every body had a smile on their face and were having such a good time. The closest I can think of is the Songkran Water Festival in Thailand. 

We left our hotel about 11:00 am on the big day and walked up the Main Street to see if anything was happening yet. We saw a few people splashed with a little color and that was about it. Then we reached one of the main streets that takes you to the lakeside and the vendors selling small baggies of bright colored powder were lined up. I started out buying five bags of various colored powders for .20 cents each. We continued on down to the lakeside and started walking the promenade. Three little girls, splashed with color from the tops of their heads down to their toes ran up and held out their hands, they were asking me for some powder. I put some in each of their hands after which they promptly splashed it all over me and ran away giggling. And just like that, it was on!  As I continued to walk I started meeting more people who would rub color on my face, neck, or arms, or splash it on my tee shirt and shout “Happy Holi”. I walked by a group of kids that had squirt guns filled with colored water, and one even had a bucket of red water. They were trying to douse everyone going by and were having great fun giving, and receiving, large doses of color. We met up with so many people that would give you a small smear of color on your forehead and a hug, along with a “Happy Holi” wish and a big smile, and ask where we were from. They really demonstrated that the festival was all inclusive and open to everyone.

By the time I made it to the far end of the lakeside the crowd had really started to build up. In a large field by the lakeside a stage had been set up and DJs were blasting the tunes. People were dancing and dousing each other with color, setting off colored smoke bombs, and having the best time ever. One of the biggest drones I have ever seen was flying over the field and misting everyone with water to keep us cool. I got separated from Aaron for a while here. After looking for him and not seeing him anywhere, I got pulled into the crowd by some young people and just danced until I finally spotted him. We were needing a break at this point and went into one of the lakeside restaurants, the Bamboo, and had a beer and a little rest period.

Next, we decided to walk down to the Main Street and see what was going on. Here, we found traffic closed down and a large stage had been set up. Instead of a DJ, there was a live band playing AC/DC, and doing it quite well. We joined the crowd here and listened to some live classic rock and showering of colors for a bit. Then we headed to the opposite end of the lake. At this point I had bought 12 bags of color and I looked like I had been rolled in a box of melted crayons. I was having the best time ever. I think the adults were having every bit as much fun as the kids were, I know I was. 

The opposite end of the lake had another field with stage and DJs going. It was really full on by this time. More and more people were gathering and the color was really being splashed. It was all just so much good fun. Nobody was getting out of hand or acting crazy, everyone was just having a great time. I don’t think I’ve ever been any place where I have received so many hugs and well wishes from complete strangers. Many even thanking us for coming to Nepal and celebrating with them. I absolutely loved it, and I love the warm hearted people here. By this time we were getting a little worn out so headed back to the Bamboo for some food and beers.

We were just in time too, shortly after arriving at the restaurant it started to rain. Not just a little one either. It effectively put a stop to the Holi Festival for the evening.

I am so happy that we got out early and joined in on the festivities. It was a super fun day. Best of all, I didn’t feel like I was in a foreign country surrounded by strangers. We have been in Pokhara long enough to know it pretty well, and it feels very familiar at this point. I really felt like I was just at a big party with many, many friends and we were all having a great time together. I think that is what the Holi Festival is really all about and I felt really blessed to be a part of it.  

OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO FROM THE HOLI CELEBRATION