Holi festivities kicked off in Nepal on Friday with the ancient Chir tradition -sacred bamboo Chir was upraised at the Basantapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kathmandu.

Nepal’s celebration begins with an ancient ceremony. A week prior to the festival, locals hoist a bamboo pole covered in colored cloth, called “Chir,” in Kathmandu’s famous Basantapur ...