The Hori festival is in full swing in the Tarai districts of Kailali and Kanchanpur, where the Rana Tharu community is celebrating the festival with distinctive vigour and joy. The festivities, which began on Wednesday, are marked by the lively tradition of Jinda Hori, a unique celebration that spans over a month and continues until the full moon of Fagun.

In the Rana Tharu community, Jinda Hori is a time of collective revelry, with communities coming together in the evenings to dance to the beats of traditional drums. The entire community, including both the young and elderly, joins in the celebration with vibrant dances that continue throughout the night.

The tradition of playing Hori begins from the full moon of Magh and lasts for a full month, with the community celebrating with infectious energy. A prominent feature of the celebration is the nighttime dances, where Jinda Hori is performed with great enthusiasm, creating a lively and festive environment.

As the community continues its celebrations, the ritual remains alive and well, with the night dances and collective merrymaking set to continue until the Holika Dahan ritual is performed.

The night of dancing and revelry represents not just a celebration of colour, but also a deeper cultural connection to their heritage.