KATHMANDU: Holi, the festival of colors, is being celebrated in hilly areas of the country with great fanfare and rejoicing on Monday.

The festival is celebrated on the full moon day of March to mark the victory of good over evil. It is the day to have fun and play with other people by throwing colored water and powder at each other.

Bastantapur, at the heart of Kathmandu, hosts one of the most colorful Holi celebrations in the country. Beneath centuries-old temples and palace windows, people gather with water balloons and colored powder. They sing, dance, and make merry.

KATHMANDU: As the tender morning sun touches the asphalt, the street takes on a new, almost painterly look—like a blank canvas awaiting the first drop of color from a master artist.

The air carries a unique fragrance, a blend of fresh dust and newly bloomed flowers—red for love, yellow for friendship.

Today, no one feels like a stranger; everyone is part of this shared moment.

The street is no longer just a road—it has become a celebration ground. Rain puddles shimmer with tiny rainbows, and though individual faces are hard to discern, the laughter of the crowd is unmistakably clear.