In which country is Holi called Fagu Purnima?

In Nepal, Holi is called Fagu Purnima. The name refers to the full-moon observance in the Hindu month of Phalguna, when Nepal’s spring festival is celebrated with colours, music and social gatherings.

Nepalese Holi shares the broader South Asian themes of welcoming spring, renewing relationships and celebrating the triumph of good over evil. The preceding night may include Holika Dahan, a bonfire recalling the story of Prahlada’s devotion and Holika’s destruction. The exact Gregorian date changes annually because the festival follows a lunar calendar.

Celebrations vary across Nepal. In the hills and Kathmandu Valley, colour-throwing and public festivities are prominent. In the southern Terai, Holi is often observed on a different day from the hills, reflecting regional calendrical and cultural practice.

Fagu Purnima should not be confused with a separate national festival. It is Nepal’s common name for Holi, while Fagu or Phagu refers to the lunar-season setting and Purnima means full moon.