Winter is supposed to have gone, but with temperature at 8 degrees on Monday morning, it didn't feel like it.

We were walking down to the bus stop on our way to work. Holi was still five days away, so we weren't on red alert yet. Then, "Splat."

Cowardly sniggering boys let up a cheer at the direct hit. No explanation necessary: it\'s Holi.

The rites of spring are here. Although Holi is celebrated only for a day in the Valley (on Friday) the warmup begins long beforehand, and this year it has begun a full week before. The water scarcity in Kathmandu seems to make no difference. If there is no clean water, water from the drain will do just fine.

The streets of Asan are already spattered with plastic bags which have missed their targets. The choks are packed with huddles of boys waiting to ambush unsuspecting female passersby. Foreigners are not spared.

The country is preparing for elections that will have a proportional representation for women, Nepali women's groups may be battling for legislation to punish domestic violence, but the message hasn't got through to the street's brat packs.
Holi isn't fun anymore because it's not voluntary. Women are attacked, tourists are forced to join in, it has become a dreaded and hostile ritual. Why do you think this paper is coming out one day early this week?

And the teenagers on terraces aren't just dropping balloons anymore, they are throwing rotten tomatos, big plastic bags with stinky water, and even eggs.

Holi is about ushering in spring. The colours used to symbolise rebirth and rejuvenation. But the powders used are poisonous, using chromium and other heavy metals that can be lethal if ingested. The paints contain lethal doses of lead. In any other country holi would come with a health warning, or be banned.

Holi is supposed to be a reenactment of the antics of a precocious young Lord Krishna as he splashed water to tease gopinis. That may have been ok in Mathura, but today's gopinis are not going to take much more of this.

Starting this year, the women will be fighting back. The boys better beware because they're going to be at the receiving end and the girls are going to be getting back for centuries of bullying.

So what is it going to be, guys: a lola right between your eyes or a potato where it'll hurt the most?

Srishti Adhikari