Lovlyanup

Ah! It's that time of the year again. The colourful and vibrant festival of Holi is at hand. The festival has mythological roots stretching back to ancient times. But, over the years, the cultural and religious legacy of Holi is being undermined by the ones who should be their custodians: the young generation.
Overzealous youngsters are ruining the mood for the rest of Nepalis who want to celebrate the festival of colours with their loved ones on the slated day.
The festival has itself seen some changes in the last couple of years. For instance, the old lolas consisted of water-filled balloons. These days, the lolas have morphed into tiny plastic bags filled with water, their mouths tied by rubber bands. The reasons for the replacement are simple: Plastic bags are easier to fill up and they hurt like hell for those at the receiving end.
From little boys and girls to old men and women, everybody has an opinion regarding Holi. City Post offers you a sampling.
She says:
"I am on my toes soon as I see little patches of water on the street for they indicate water pranks being played in the area. I have to keep my eyes on terraces and windows of the houses as I walk," says Binaya Gwanwali, 21, a student of Kathmandu Model College. "It's a really scary time for girls!"
Says Bandana Paudel, another recent graduate, from Basundhara: "My horrendous experience in previous years make me detest Holi." She elaborates, "Being hit by lola while you are on your way to some important work is highly inconveniencing, painful and humiliating."
School and college students seem equally at ease to hurling lolas inside the compound of their alma mater. "Even those not interested in participating are being targeted, that too inside school and college premises," says Padma Maskey, a schoolteacher.

In order to save their students from the painful experience, education institutions close three to four days in advance of the big day. But staying at home gets on the nerve of students like college freshman Richa Sharma, who doesn't shy from giving the guys a whack on the back offered a chance. "I try not to get caught throwing lolas. I am equally careful not to be hit by one," she says tongue-in-cheek.
He says:
"Come on! It is the only time of the year we get to tease, scare and irritate girls," says a young man from among the group of college boys of a Ravibhawan-based government college. They say it is fun to ambush girls in group. "In a way, we are rebels who want to have fun at the expense of other people."
"The festival in itself is not bad if celebrated properly and timely. It bears religious value and gives a reason for people to come together," says 67-year-old Krishna S. However, according to him, the boys these days act like mad dogs, chasing poor girls with water balloons, making a disgrace of the great festival.
On the other hand, there are people like Nikesh Shakya who's given up the old habit. "When I was eleven, I got into big trouble during Holi." One of the persons he threw balloon at failed to see the funny side of it. He barged into the house and raised a hell. "I had learned my lesson. From that day I play Holi only with my family and friends," says the 21-year-old student at Pulchowk Engineering College.
The festival has given young people an excuse to express their animal instinct. But as is clearly evident from the remarks above, it is not the festival itself people dislike, but the wrong trend that has developed on the pretext of celebrating Holi. Let us celebrate the great festival of Holi to the fullest, but also keep in mind that our celebrations do not cause someone else unnecessary trouble.
Happy Holi