March 14, 2025: Holi, India’s most joyous festival, is a celebration of colour, joy and love. While India is renowned for its vibrant Holi celebrations, other countries also take part in this festive extravaganza, albeit with unique regional twist.

Nepal’s distinctive Holi celebrations:

In Nepal, Holi commences with a traditional ceremony, where a bamboo stick adorned with Chir (shading material) is erected in Basantapur Durbar Square and other parts of the country, a week prior to the festival. On the evening of Holi, the Chir is burnt, marking the beginning of the celebration. This ritual is known as Chir Haran or Holika Dahan. Interestingly, Nepal celebrates holi over two days, with the first day observed in the hilly regions and Kathmandu Valley, and the second day in the Terai region, adding a distinctive regional flavour.

Mauritius joins in the Holi celebrations:

The island nation of Mauritius also celebrates Holi  with great joy. Recently, Indian PM Narendra Modi, during his visit to the country, addressed the Indian Diaspora reminiscing about his previous visit to Mauritius 10 years ago, just after Holi. He expressed his delight in experiencing the joy of ‘Phagwa” in Mauritius, stating, “This time, I will take the colours of holi with me to India.”