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Holi or the festival of colours, is being celebrated with much fanfare in hilly areas, including the Capital city, on Thursday, while it will be celebrated in the Terai region tomorrow.

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 colours including Abir or red vermilion powder.

Among various cultural festivals celebrated in Nepal, the Phagu Poornima carries its own specialty and significance. People of all age 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' 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 colour 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 declared public holiday to celebrate the festival. 

Meanwhile, as many as 3,500 police personnel have been deployed in Kathmandu Valley to ensure celebration of Holi festival in a peaceful, decent and civilized manner. RSS

The ramifications of Russia-Ukraine conflict are being seen in Nepali markets as well.

Prices of commodities and daily essentials have gone up as the war has disrupted global supply chains.

“Prices of foodstuffs have gone up by 10 to 25 percent while transport fares have also increased due to the fuel price hike—all due to the disruption of international supply chains,” says Vijay Singh Baidya, chairperson of the Trade Committee of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

If things do not soon normalize, goods that are being imported from Russia and Ukraine will have to be procured from other countries.

“For now Nepal has been maintaining its domestic supply chains with stocked goods, which are running out quickly,” says Baidya.

According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported 45 kinds of goods worth over Rs14 billion from Ukraine in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. In the same period, 91 kinds of goods worth over Rs 4 billion were imported from Russia.

Nepal imports items ranging from vegetable oil, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, toiletries, metals, electronic goods and machinery components from these two countries.

With uncertainty around the war, Baidya says the only option for Nepal is to import these goods from other countries.

Nepal should also consider the price hikes in other items that are indirectly imported from Ukraine and Russia—mainly wheat and petroleum products. The ongoing war has already threatened the global supply of goods like wheat, petroleum and sunflower oil.

“Nepal should have a contingency plan for import of goods it can no longer buy from the two countries,” says Punya Bikram Khadka, information officer at the Department of Customs.

So long as the war continues, continued global price hikes seem inevitable, largely due to the imminent shortage of oil.

Economist Poshraj Pandey says Russia, the world’s second largest oil exporter, has been unable to ship petroleum goods to the international market due to economic sanctions.

“Russia used to sell 5.5 million barrels of oil a day, but now that shipment has largely stopped. This has led to a shortage of oil in the international market, pushing up the price,” he says.

Rise in fuel prices will also increase transport fares, which then drives up the cost of other goods.

Pandey says more than 40 percent of consumable goods in Nepal are imported.

“Prices of goods will continue to go up with the rise in the costs of petroleum products,” he says.

As many as 3,500 police personnel will be deployed in Kathmandu Valley to ensure celebration of Holi festival in a peaceful, decent and civilized manner.

SP Sanotsh Singh Rathore, spokesperson at the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, said that police have prepared special security arrangements in view of the Holi festival.

It has been learnt that more than 1, 700 police personnel will be deployed in Kathmandu, more than 600 in Lalitpur and more than 400 in Bhaktapur.

At least 300 traffic police personnel from the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division will be deployed for checking.

The Traffic Police Division said that it has decided to set up checkpoints in 68 places in the Kathmandu Valley.

SP Rathore said that more than 100 police personnel in civvies will be deployed from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division for the festival.

Police have requested the general public to call police control number 100 in case of any incident.

Nepal Police have urged the general public to put precautionary measures to prevent possible incidents of fire in the dry season.

The security agency has called for the public to remain alert of the incidents and subsequent loss of lives and properties.

Issuing a public notice, the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu noted that the disastrous incidents of fire are most likely to take place almost during 100 days from mid-March to mid-June and therefore urged to place precautionary measures from the public level to prevent occurrence of such incidents and reduce the loss even if occurred.

Sharing that Nepal Police have been effortful for controlling fire incidents and reducing loss, Nepal Police spokesperson Dinesh Raj Mainali said fire incidents can be checked or its potential loss can be reduced by placing some precautionary measures.

The Nepal Police have also issued an 11-point precautionary measure to check potential incidents of fire. Among the measures unveiled are keeping matches, lighter, gas cylinder and stove away from children, using them in an attentive manner and keeping the things safe after use.

The Metropolitan Police Range also asked not to use high-voltage electronic goods from the same power socket and not to leave illumination of incense sticks and handmade incense at prayers' rooms and mosquito quail at bed rooms.

The security agency also urged the public draping the cylinder with a jute sack or blanket if it catches fire, keep the windows and doors open before using gas stove and not to put the forest area in fire for cattle grazing,

The police have also urged one and all to dial up 100 for the police control room and 101 for fire engine service. RSS