KATHMANDU: People in Kathmandu valley and several hilly districts are observing Holi, the festival of colours, which is also known as Fagu Purnima, by exchanging wishes today.

Revellers, young and old alike, celebrate the festival by smearing colourful powders and throwing colours and water at each other. Likewise, the festival will be celebrated in the Tarai region tomorrow.

Holi is celebrated as a festival of reconciliation as revellers leave negative feelings like anger and animosity aside and put colours on each other’s faces.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has warned revellers against hurling water-filled balloons and forcefully smearing colours on pedestrians, women and children without their consent during Holi.

“It is punishable by law to misbehave with and intimidate pedestrians and passers-by and throw water-filled balloons and plastic pouches or smear colourful powders on their faces forcefully on the pretext of Holi celebrations,” a press release issued on Tuesday, by the Ministry of Home Affairs stated.

The ministry said any person involved in illegal activities will be liable to action under the prevailing laws. Meanwhile, police said they would keep vigil on ‘miscreants and offenders’ during Holi.

The law strictly forbids riotous behaviour, molestation, battery, nuisance or misconduct with the intention of harassing or causing trouble to another person.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, in separate messages, have extended best wishes to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of the festival.