Millions of people celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colours
The event sees Hindus celebrating the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.
Millions of people in South Asia are celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, by wearing bright powder, dancing and feasting on traditional sweets.
The raucous spring festival sees Hindus take part in a kaleidoscopic celebration of the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.
Holi has its origins in Hindu mythology and lore and celebrates the divine love between the Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha, and signifies a time of rebirth and rejuvenation.
Children, perched on rooftops and balconies, flung water balloons filled with pigments at passers by.
Groups of young men also used water guns to chase people down in public parks and on the roads, while others danced on the streets to music blaring from speakers.
“It’s time for fun and frolic,” said Krisha Bedi, a lawyer, whose face was covered with red, green and blue powder.
Amid massive celebrations in the west Indian city of Ahmedabad, thousands of people gathered at temple were sprayed with coloured water from huge pipes as they swayed to traditional Gujarati music, clapping over their heads.
Vendors in parts of India sold thandai, a traditional light green beverage prepared with milk, cardamom and dried fruit, and gujia, a flaky, deep-fried sweet pastry stuffed with milk curds, nuts and dried fruit.
The drink is connected to Hinduism, particularly to Lord Shiva, and is also enjoyed during other religious festivals in the region.
In many parts of India, people also light large bonfires the night before the festival to signify the destruction of evil and victory of good.
In two northern towns, hundreds of women celebrated last week by playfully hitting men who teased them as a part of ritual with wooden sticks. The festival is called “Lathmar Hol”, or Stick Holi.
