Kathmandu, March 22

People in the Kathmandu Valley and hilly regions celebrated Holi, the festival of colours, with great enthusiasm by smearing colourful powders on each other and exchanging greetings today.

According to a legend, the festival commemorates the victory of good over evil and centres around the story of how Prahlad, a devoted worshipper of Lord Vishnu, was saved when the demon king Hiranyakashyap's sister Holika threw him into a blazing fire.

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• Holi celebration in pictures

Denizens of Kathmandu enjoyed playing Holi with family members and friends. Foreign tourists also celebrated the festival in the streets of the capital, especially at Basantapur, Durbar Marg and Thamel.

Hundreds of youths gathered at Bastantapur Durbar Square and celebrated Holi, also called Fagu Purnima, with dance and music.

It is said the festival marks the end of winter season and welcomes summer. People in the Tarai will be celebrating the festival tomorrow. A public holiday was announced to mark Holi.

The Metropolitan Police said the festival passed off peacefully except sporadic incidents of hooliganism.

Police said nearly 328 persons were detained for their alleged involvement in eve-teasing and hooliganism in the Valley, mostly in Kathmandu. Police are screening the arrestees to proceed with some public crimes against them.

More than 5,000 police personnel were deployed to maintain peace and order during the festival.

Likewise, the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division impounded more than 1661 vehicles for driving under the influence, driving roughly, zigzagging the bikes, riding without helmet and carrying more than one pillion rider. Of them, around 95 per cent are motorcycles.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and district administration offices and police in the Valley had warned people against misbehaving with strangers on the pretext of the festival.