In spite of its religious and cultural importance, Holi now has turned into a festival that’s more of a nuisance. It is not celebrated in a manner that it used to be. This festival has been the best excuse for young boys to throw water balloons, paying little regard to standards of decency. Even gruesome accidents are reported during the festival, which goes on to say that it rather promotes animosity.

— Dinesh Bhandari

Perhaps creating tumults is one of the best ways to arouse excitement. Be it Shivaratri or Ganthe mangal they aren’t exciting unless there’s violence involved. Definitely if it’s one of the liveliest festival, it’s also the rowdiest.

— Eak Prashad Duwadi

As far as holi festival is concerned, I think it promotes friendship rather than animosity. Holi is the one and only festival that brings friends and family together. However, one shouldn’t be forced into participating in the revelry. Or else it may turn into a festival of animosity rather than amity.

— Bikesh Khatri Chhetri

Holi is indeed is a festival that colours different relationships. Everyone observe this festival with enthusiasm keeping aside his or her little worries. Though the festival marks the beginning of new relationships, it often also turns out to be the end of relationships. Therefore, it is best if people observe the festival keeping all evil thoughts at bay.

— Rajendra Lama

It’s indeed impossible to imagine the world without colours. With the onset of spring comes the festival of colors. Holi brings beautiful moments that we all cherish. The festival strengthens the bond between friends and relatives. As the colorful images last more than the colorless, Holi imprints a colourful image about relationships that remains etched forever.

— Sani Shrestha

As a kid even I used enjoyed throwing lolas. Once I threw the water-filled balloon at a foreigner that hit her on the back. The girl came right over to the top of the building. Despite our fears, what amazed us was that in spite of thrashing us she did what we never could even have imagined. She came and kissed me on my cheek and went away merrily. Though, I’ve stopped playing Holi, when I was on my way for exams someone threw a whole bucket of water over me. When I looked up in the direction I saw young girls giggling at me. What else could I do but walk over to the exam hall with wet clothes and embarrassment.

— Suniel Raj Dhakal

Holi is one of the rowdiest festivals celebrated in Nepal and India. The people celebrating Holi knowingly or unknowingly twist the original meaning of Holi to harass passers by on the street. Just because it is Holi, I do not forfeit my right to walk on the road without fearing “colour attacks” or “dirty water filled balloon attacks”. I certainly have no objection on consenting people colouring each other, but colouring someone without his/her consent is a breach of right. I wonder when the youth of Nepal will learn to respect each other’s dignity.

— Hari Shrestha

Amongst innumerable Hindu festivals, Holi probably ranks as the most colourful. It celebrates the arrival of spring and the celebration of joy and hope. Holi provides a refreshing respite from the mundane norms as people from all walks of life enjoy themselves. In a tight knit community, it also provides a good excuse for venting off animosities and settling old scores, without causing physical injury. Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi is now a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu mythology. Holi is an excuse to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever and big fun. It is the festival to forget racism and rivalry. Holi without noise is like Diwali without fireworks. In my opinion, it promotes friendship, not animosity.

— Swastik Bajracharya

Holi is one of the merriest and the liveliest Hindu festivals. This is the time to get rid of animosities and embrace friends and relatives. Holi is the one festival that promotes the spirit of friendship. However, I do not quite appreciate the way it’s celebrated by today’s youth. Rather than labelling it, what is required is to change the way it’s celebrated.

— Situ Manandhar

Holi is a festival of friendship. We get to meet people, forget our past animosities and become friends at least for a day. In no way can Holi be said to be a festival that promotes animosity, until we are talking about young boys who take undue advantage of the festival.

— Samir Jha

Holi is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals. It brings colours to our lives. Holi promotes friendship if it is observed in a healthy manner. It is the most liveliest and thrilling of all festivals. We should enjoy but then limit it to the day that we should actually celebrate it.

— Ashwani Kumar Gupta

Holi used to be a beautiful festival full of colours and feelings of fraternity and friendship. But the trend has changed and it’s become a festival of brawls and ugly enmity. It’s not our culture to throw lolas to unsuspecting passerby. 

— Ujjwal Suwal

Holi reminds us to remain happy and attempt to make others happy. Had there been no festivals, life wouldn’t have been as beautiful as it is. Holi is celebrated with colours and feelings of fraternity. However, some people consider the occasion as an opportunity to annoy others. They’re always on the lookout for unsuspecting passers by to throw balloons with dirty water. The kind of joy derived from such inhumane activities is just strange to understand but that is what the festival of Holi used to be.

— Prem

In Kathmandu I believe it is observed as the rowdiest festival. We need to change our dirty mindsets of taking pleasure at other’s sufferings.

— Shekhar KC

Holi is undoubtedly one of the most colourful of festivals. I don’t say it is the rowdiest festival.

It actually depends on how one observes this festival. Among friends willing to drench themselves, hitting lolas at each other can be fun. But it sure is going to create trouble when one aims lolas at a stranger. I myself wouldn’t love to be hit by a lola, unless it’s someone beautiful.

— I-Use

It is true that Holi nowadays has become the rowdiest of festivals and people are no more willing to celebrate it. Holi has become the licence to tease girls and hurl lolas. Holi celebrated with due regard for the feelings of others definitely promotes feelings of fraternity.

— Binay Nath Shrestha

Holi is celebrated with great interest in our country. It is celebrated for a week in which many families and friends get together and share their joy and happiness by playing with colours. Every festival is celebrated for a reason and Holi indeed promotes amity among people. However, people forcing others to join them may result in animosity.

— Prakash Pokharel ‘Arpan’

There are various aspects of Holi that makes it all the more significant. So when, its time for Holi, please don’t hold yourself back but enjoy the festival participating with full enthusiasm. Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. Hindus and non-Hindus alike, celebrate the festival.

— Nitu Kedia