A college student reacts as coloured powder is thrown into her face, Agartala, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Holi, also known as the festival of colour, was celebrated with zeal and vigour to mark the end of the winter season and to welcome the arrival of spring. The annual event is celebrated with colour, singing, dancing, drum playing and bonfires. Participants chase and cover each other in coloured powder to celebrate the colours of spring. In another ritual, women perform a ‘mock beating’ where they use sticks to beat the men of the local village.
Although the festival is primarily observed in India and Nepal, the celebration has spread to parts of Europe and America. Here we look at 29 pictures of how Hindu devotees celebrated Holi this year.
Indian devotees throw coloured powder during celebrations for Lathmar Holi in Barsana on the outskirts of Mathura in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. PHOTO: AFP
A labourer sifts coloured powder, known as gulal, which will be used during the Hindu spring festival of Holi, Siliguri, India. PHOTO: AFP
A college student reacts as coloured powder is thrown into her face, Agartala, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Visitors blow colour powder during Holi, the Festival of Colours, celebrations inside Rabindra Bharati University campus in Kolkata, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Widows take part in Holi celebrations in the town of Vrindavan in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India PHOTO: REUTERS
Widows take part in Holi celebrations in the town of Vrindavan in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
People take part in Holi celebrations in the town of Vrindavan in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
An Indian worker dries out eco-friendly herbal coloured powder ahead of the upcoming Hindu festival of Holi at a factory on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. PHOTO: AFP
A Hindu devotee holds a water gun as he takes part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Hindu devotees take part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Hindu devotees take part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Girls run for cover as boys spray coloured water on them inside a temple during Holi celebrations in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
A woman poses for a photograph during Holi celebrations in the town of Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh. PHOTO: REUTERS
Hindu devotees take part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
A Hindu devotee displays his inked hand after taking part in the religious festival of Holi in Vrindavan, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
A Hindu devotee is covered in coloured powder as he stands outside a temple during the religious festival of Holi in Vrindavan, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
A Hindu devotee is covered in coloured powder as he stands outside a temple during the religious festival of Holi in Vrindavan, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Indian Hindu devotees celebrate Holi, the spring festival of colours, during a traditional gathering at Nandgaon village in Uttar Pradesh state. PHOTO: AFP
Hindu devotees walk around a bonfire during a ritual known as “Holika Dahan” which is part of Holi, festival of colours, celebrations in Ahmedabad, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
People take part in Holi, the Festival of Colours, celebrations in Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO: REUTERS
Students take selfies during Holi, the Festival of Colours organised by “Colombo Indians”, Indians who live in Colombo, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. PHOTO: REUTERS
Men throw coloured water onto another man during Holi, the Festival of Colours organised by “Colombo Indians”, Indians who are live in Colombo, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. PHOTO: REUTERS
A boy with his face smeared in coloured powder, is seen during Holi, the Festival of Colours organised by ” Colombo Indians”, Indians who live in Colombo, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. PHOTO: REUTERS
Boys smear each other with colours, Kolkata, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
A boy reacts as he is smeared with colours, Ahmedabad, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Boys smear each other with colours, Kolkata, India. PHOTO: REUTERS
A reveller is tossed into the air as they celebrate the Holi spring festival in Kathmandu. PHOTO: AFP
Students at an event in Kolkata smear coloured powder in a spirit of celebration. PHOTO: AFP
Thousands of Hindus and tourists gather each year for the festival, India. PHOTO: AFP
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5 Comments
indeed this festival of colours reduces disparities among different races and religions . its the start of Phalgun – spring – birds and bees .
Abhishek Chaturvedi do away with your Hitler shahi fitrat yaar. Check in this page “Holi Colours Come Alive In Karachi” also in Lahore and other cities in Pakistan where even Christians and Muslims joined in the fun including Muslim govt ministers, then tell us how many Hindus got bombed. You are blinded by your political prejudiced against pakistan as taught in Indian schools.Terrorists bombed mosques and Muslims some times christians because they want political control. How many Mandirs have been bombed in Pakistan can you give us details with evidenc please. I know what you gonna say and and reply bcoz thats your nature so dont bother to reply. India Mosques are destroyed by Hindwata , Muslims and Christians and others are not allowed even to attend Diwali or Holi Bazar in Maharashtra by orders or Hindu organizations. I am not Pakistani do not support even them . i am of diaspora overseas Indian my nani (grandmother) was a Hindu name Durji my boyfriend is Hindu from Karnataka.
@mohammad khan: when you wrote “against pakistan as taught in Indian schools”..then i am sure you are not Indian or you have never gone to any Indian school
@Rana: I am not Indian my grand parents came to Australia 120 yrs ago . I am a mixture of Afghani Lucknowi and Bengla from my Nani . I know what is taught in Indian schools. I have interaction with lots on Indians and Pakistanis. All Indians are anti Pakistani but as they make friends with Pakis they become watered down in their attitude. They even dislike us who are overseas Indians have been living here for over hundred years.
indeed this festival of colours reduces disparities among different races and religions . its the start of Phalgun – spring – birds and bees .
Beautiul…happy holi
Abhishek Chaturvedi do away with your Hitler shahi fitrat yaar. Check in this page “Holi Colours Come Alive In Karachi” also in Lahore and other cities in Pakistan where even Christians and Muslims joined in the fun including Muslim govt ministers, then tell us how many Hindus got bombed. You are blinded by your political prejudiced against pakistan as taught in Indian schools.Terrorists bombed mosques and Muslims some times christians because they want political control. How many Mandirs have been bombed in Pakistan can you give us details with evidenc please. I know what you gonna say and and reply bcoz thats your nature so dont bother to reply. India Mosques are destroyed by Hindwata , Muslims and Christians and others are not allowed even to attend Diwali or Holi Bazar in Maharashtra by orders or Hindu organizations. I am not Pakistani do not support even them . i am of diaspora overseas Indian my nani (grandmother) was a Hindu name Durji my boyfriend is Hindu from Karnataka.
@mohammad khan: when you wrote “against pakistan as taught in Indian schools”..then i am sure you are not Indian or you have never gone to any Indian school
@Rana: I am not Indian my grand parents came to Australia 120 yrs ago . I am a mixture of Afghani Lucknowi and Bengla from my Nani . I know what is taught in Indian schools. I have interaction with lots on Indians and Pakistanis. All Indians are anti Pakistani but as they make friends with Pakis they become watered down in their attitude. They even dislike us who are overseas Indians have been living here for over hundred years.