KATHMANDU: Holi or Fagu Poornima, the festival of colors, is being observed in hilly areas, including the capital city, on Monday.

The festival of colors which stands for goodwill and mutual reconciliation marks the beginning of spring season.

It is played by smearing assorted colors on the faces among friends, family members and relatives.

However, with Nepal being at high risk of the novel virus, the government has called on the Nepali people to refrain from playing the Holi.

Hence, the people in the hilly region participated in the festival this year.

However, unlike in the past, the roads and pavement in the capital looked deserted today – without Holi players wearing vests and T-shirts stained with assorted colors. It seems the festival has lost its fervor and died down gradually.

People are not seen in the alleys and every nook and cranny, as in the previous years, participating in the festival with enthusiasm thanks to the coronavirus.

With the deadly coronavirus continuing its march across the world, the government has urged the people not to hold public functions, mass gatherings and observe Holi festival.

The festival has been limited to family members, smearing colors in a small group within their family members this time while all the musical concert-related programs as in the past have been canceled.

On Saturday, two days before the festival, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice directing the Nepali citizens not to observe Holi festival, hold mass gatherings and public functions as part of the campaign to combat fast-spreading novel coronavirus.