Photo: Nabin K. Sapkota, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Holi, called Fagu Purnima in Nepal, is the festival of colors held on the full-moon day (Purnima) of Falgun. In the hills, including Kathmandu, it fell on Falgun 18, 2082 (2 March 2026) and falls on Chaitra 7, 2083 (21 March 2027). The Terai and Madhesh celebrate one day later. People put colored powder (abir or gulal) on each other, throw water, sing, dance and share sweets.
The date follows the lunar tithi, not the solar Bikram Sambat month, so it changes every year on both the BS and AD calendars. Check the patro each year for the exact day.
Nepal celebrates Holi on two days. The hilly regions, including Kathmandu, celebrate on Fagu Purnima itself, and the Terai and Madhesh region celebrate the next day. The sections below cover the dates, the Holika story, the chir pole, the regional difference and the customs.
What Is Fagu Purnima and When Is Holi Celebrated?
Fagu Purnima is the Nepali name for Holi. It falls on the full-moon day of the lunar month of Falgun. On the solar Bikram Sambat calendar this can be late Falgun or early Chaitra: Holi fell on Falgun 18, 2082 (2 March 2026) and falls on Chaitra 7, 2083 (21 March 2027) in the hills. In the AD calendar it usually falls in March. The date moves each year, so confirm it on the current calendar.
Fagu comes from Falgun, and Purnima means full moon. The festival starts about a week before the full moon, when a ceremonial pole called the chir is raised at Basantapur in Kathmandu. The chir stays up until the full-moon day and marks the start of the festival in the valley.
Falgun is the eleventh month of the Nepali year, just before Chaitra. See our guide to the 12 Nepali calendar months in order for where it falls and why lunar festivals like Holi have no fixed AD date.
Why the Date Changes Every Year
Holi is tied to the lunar tithi of Falgun Shukla Purnima, not a fixed solar day. The lunar year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year, so Holi moves within a window from late February to late March. The exact day is fixed each year in the panchang.
What Is the Story Behind Holika Dahan?
Holika Dahan is the bonfire lit on the evening before Holi. It comes from the story of Prahlad, Holika and the demon king Hiranyakashipu. The king wanted to be worshipped as a god, but his son Prahlad kept worshipping Lord Vishnu. The angry king ordered Prahlad to be killed, and the bonfire recalls that night.
The king's sister Holika had a boon that protected her from fire. She made Prahlad sit on a pyre with her, expecting the fire to burn only the boy. Her boon failed because she misused it. Holika burned, and Prahlad came out unharmed because of his devotion.
The bonfire on Holi eve stands for the burning of Holika and the victory of devotion over arrogance. The name Holi is widely traced to Holika. Like many Hindu festivals, Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil.
The same theme is behind Dashain, where the goddess Durga defeats the demon Mahishasura. See our Dashain festival guide.
The Chir Pole and Chir Dahan
About a week before Holi, a tall bamboo chir is put up at Basantapur Durbar Square and hung with colored strips of cloth that stand for blessings. On the night of Purnima the chir is taken down and burned. This is called Chir Dahan. It mirrors the Holika bonfire and marks the end of the festival.
How Do the Hills and the Terai Celebrate Holi Differently?
Nepal celebrates Holi on two days because of regional custom. The hilly and mountain regions, including the Kathmandu Valley, celebrate on Fagu Purnima. The Terai and Madhesh region follows the same custom as neighbouring northern India and celebrates the next day. Both play with colors and water and eat festive food. Only the day differs.
So people in Kathmandu play Holi a day before their relatives in Janakpur or Birgunj. Markets, schools and offices close for the holiday on the day that applies to their region. If you are travelling between the hills and the Terai around Holi, check which day is the holiday where you will be.
| Region | Day of celebration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hilly and mountain (incl. Kathmandu) | Fagu Purnima (full moon) | Chir Dahan in Basantapur the same night |
| Terai and Madhesh | Day after Purnima | Customs aligned with northern Indian tradition |
Colors, Water and Lola
People smear abir and gulal, dry colored powders, on faces and clothes. They also throw colored water from buckets, pichkaris (water guns) and water balloons called lola. Children and adults both take part, wish each other a happy Holi and share sweets afterwards.
What Foods and Traditions Mark Holi in Nepal?
Besides playing with colors, families cook sweets and snacks, visit neighbours and relatives, and groups walk through the streets singing folk and Bollywood songs. People who do not know each other often play together in public squares.
Common foods include gujiya (a sweet stuffed pastry), sel roti, malpua and seasonal snacks. Some communities share a spiced drink, though this is more an Indian Holi custom than a Nepali one. Music, drums and dancing go on in courtyards and on rooftops through the day.
Putting colored powder on the forehead of friends and elders as a greeting.
Singing and dancing in groups around the neighbourhood or in open squares.
Eating festive food and sweets once the color play ends, usually by afternoon.
Lighting or visiting the Holika bonfire on the evening before Holi.
For other festivals with family gatherings and feasts, see our guides to Tihar, the five-day festival of lights and Teej, with its fasting and traditions.
Playing Holi Safely
Use skin-friendly herbal colors if you can, and protect your eyes. Wear old clothes, since some colors do not wash out. Always ask before putting color on someone you do not know. Not everyone wants to be soaked, and elders or guests may prefer a small tika of color on the forehead.
More on Katigate
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holi celebrated on the same day across Nepal?
No. Nepal celebrates Holi on two days. The hilly and mountain regions, including the Kathmandu Valley, celebrate on Fagu Purnima, the full-moon day of Falgun. The Terai and Madhesh region celebrates the next day, following the custom of northern India.
What is the chir in Holi celebrations?
The chir is a tall ceremonial bamboo pole put up at Basantapur in Kathmandu about a week before Holi. It is hung with colored cloth strips that stand for blessings. On the full-moon night it is taken down and burned in a ritual called Chir Dahan.
Why does the date of Holi change every year?
Holi falls on Falgun Shukla Purnima, a lunar full-moon tithi, not a fixed solar date. The lunar year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year, so the festival moves between late February and late March. Check the current Nepali calendar for the exact day.
What does Holika Dahan represent?
Holika Dahan is the bonfire lit on the evening before Holi. It recalls the story of Prahlad and Holika: Holika, sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, burned in the fire while Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu, survived. The fire stands for the victory of good over evil.
The Katigate festival calendar lists Falgun Purnima and every other festival date for the year, with Holi marked separately for the hills and the Terai.