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Holi or the festival of colors, is being celebrated with much fanfare in hilly areas, including the capital city today while tomorrow in Tarai region.

The Phagu Poornima celebration begins with a Holika dahan or making a bonfire commemorating the death of Holika on the eve of Holi, the symbol of triumph of good over evil. The next day, people enjoy smearing one another with different colors including abir or red vermilion powder.

Among various cultural festivals celebrated in Nepal, the Phagu Poornima carries its own specialty and significance. People from old to young enjoy the festival with enthusiasm.

One of the widely observed festivals of the country, Phagu Poornima begins on the eighth day of the new moon and ends with burning of the 'Chir', which was installed earlier, on the full moon day later today.

According to a Hindu myth, demon king Hiranyakashyapu who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to the God Bishnu ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction Holika who had a boon from the god that fire would not harm her sat on a fire by taking Prahlad on her lap, but was burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of God Bishnu.

From then onwards, the festival also known as Holi is celebrated by smearing colors with enjoyment. There is also a saying that Lord Bishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused.

Senior people believe that any premonitions can be avoided if "Tika '' made from the ashes of the 'Chir' is put on one's forehead or kept in the house.

The government has announced a public holiday on this day.

Dhirendra Premarshi, an expert on the cultures of Nepal, said that Holi festival has played an important role in minimizing inequality and discrimination in the society.

Meanwhile, the District Police Range Kathmandu has said that the security apparatus has been strengthened to avoid any untoward incidents during the Holi festival.

More than 400 police personnel have been deployed for security in the valley alone, Senior Superintendent of Police Dineshraj Mainali of Kathmandu Valley Police Office said.

Maya Ko Pahichan Nepal, a non-profit organization advocating for the rights of the sexual and gender minorities, has announced Rehan Shrestha as the ambassador for the First International Pink Tourism Conference to be held on April 20-21.

Earlier, he was appointed as the ambassador for Visit Nepal 2020.

Organizing a press conference on Friday, the MKPN announced content creator and blogger Parakram Rana and woman entrepreneur Dr Mausam Bohara as the star promoters for the conference, according to Pahichan, an online news portal.

Blogger Lex Limbu has already been appointed the star ambassador for the conference.

Maya Ko Pahichan Nepal the Nepal Tourism Board are jointly organizing the conference.

Dr Bohara, as a successful woman entrepreneur, is expected to play a supportive role in promoting pink tourism.

During the program, Dr Bohara urged people to come together to make the event a grand success while Rana said that Nepal is a safe country for sexual and gender minorities. “Nepal is a safe country,” Rana said, adding, “I invite you to come to Nepal.”

Asia’s first openly gay former lawmaker of Nepal and also Executive Director for the Mayako Pahichan Nepal Sunil Babu Pant believes that the conference will play an important role in promoting Nepal’s tourism.

Pant, who is the pink tourism Cultural Ambassador for the Nepal, expressed the hope that Nepal’s gross domestic product would be boosted through pink tourism.

Maniraj Lamichhane, the NTB director underlined the importance of the conference saying travel companies have shown interest after training 24 people from the sexual and gender minority communities as trekking guides with the financial support of UNDP. The trained people have already started the jobs.

Lumbini Conclave, an international summit on 'Global Peace for Prosperity’ organized by Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, started in Lumbini on Thursday.

As the contemporary world is marred by geopolitical tensions, war and economic crisis, there is a growing need for dialogue, understanding and cooperation among nations. The conclave has been organized aiming to unite high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Honorary Consuls, and Ambassadors representing Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN) countries to foster peace, tourism, better relationship to work on peace and areas of mutual benefits, and investment opportunities in Nepal.

HCCN is a non-profit and non-political organization representing all Honorary Consulate General/Honorary Consulates in Nepal. With its 61 members, the organization is actively working to strengthen relations between Nepal and the represented country. These countries associated with HCCN represent five continents of the world which bring over 15 percent tourists to Nepal and have consolidated economic size worth $18.64trn. It facilitates diplomatic relations, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation between Nepal and these countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, along with other high officials from the Investment Board, Nepal Tourism Board, and Lumbini Development Trust, are scheduled to participate in the conclave. The other attendees include ambassadors and representatives from 18 countries without embassies in Nepal, honorary consuls of various countries, high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, experts in foreign affairs, and cultural heritage.

The gathering aims to promote Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as a tourist and religious site, attract investment to Nepal, and foster global unity. Discussions and presentations on investment opportunities in Nepal and its tourism potential will also be featured during the course of the conclave.

The conclave symbolizes HCCN’s commitment to peace and prosperity. It’s an opportunity to reflect on our shared responsibilities and to forge pathways for a harmonious and prosperous future. 

The HCCN, alongside MoFA, envisions this conclave as a stepping stone towards a more peaceful and prosperous world, states the release issued.   

During the conclave, there will be an art exhibition by Ujay Bajracharya and presentation by Sumnima Udas, founder and executive director of Lumbini Museum Initiative on Leveraging Lumbini's 'Soft Power,' and a presentation by Prof. Naresh Shakya, on 'Of Buddhist Art on Nepalese Art'.

Also, there will be a presentation on investment opportunities and proposed Nepal Investment Summit by Ramesh Adhikari, along with a presentation by Santosh Panta, director Nepal Tourism Board, on the tourism opportunities in Nepal.

Additionally, there will be a briefing from Prof Basant Bidari about various important sites in Lumbini and five precepts by venerable Bhikshhu. Meanwhile the participants will also be visiting various heritage sites in Lumbini Premises.

Bishnu Kumar Agarwal, the dean of HCCN, stated that the event is organized to connect Lumbini with nearly one billion Buddhists worldwide and to underscore its cultural and religious significance.

The event will conclude on March 23. 

Fire incidents have escalated with the start of the dry season.

Four hundred and eighty-eight fire incidents were reported in 14 districts of Koshi Province in the last three months, according to the Koshi Province Police Office.

Superintendent of the Office Deepak Pokharel said 12 people were killed and 24 others injured in the fire incidents in a period of three months from December 17, 2023 to March 21, 2024.

According to him, the fire incidents have mostly occurred due to electric short circuit and when fire lit in the kitchen and cow sheds go out of control.

Stating that wildfires have also broken out in local forests, SP Pokharel warned of the bush fires sometimes spreading to human settlements if not doused in time.