Nepal, March 12 -- The fact that the festival of Holi is celebrated on two different days in Nepal this week is itself an indication of how the mountains and plains of Nepal are culturally united.

The full moon day of Fagu Purnima is marked with much merriment in the mountains on Thursday, while the festival of colours is celebrated on Friday in the Tarai. And it would be fair to say that the passion with which Holi in the plains is several times more intense. In fact, along the Nepal Tarai, holi is celebrated on both days.

In many places in Birganj, Janakpur and Rajbiraj, young Hindu or Muslim, Madhesi or Pahadi, celebrate each other's festivals together. The 2021 census shows that more than half the country's population now lives in ...