Fagu Purnima/Holi (March)

This festival, which is also known as "The Festival of Colour and Rejoice", occurs in the springtime on the day of the full moon in the Nepalese month of Falgun. It marks the demise of the demoness Holika by the hands of Lord Bishnu. Smearing color and throwing colored powder at each other marks the occasion. In Kathmandu at Durbar Square a ceremonial pole, known as "Chir", is set up which announce the beginning of the festival. Chir is a long pole whose upper portion consists of wooden frames decorated with strips of colorful cloth. At the end of the festival, the Chir is taken down and burnt.