Holi: the festival of colours

Published March 27, 2013
Indian Border Security Force Soldiers dance as they celebrate during the Holi festival inside a camp in Srinagar.
Indian Border Security Force Soldiers dance as they celebrate during the Holi festival inside a camp in Srinagar.
Pakistani Hindu women apply coloured powder during Holi celebrations in Karachi.
Pakistani Hindu women apply coloured powder during Holi celebrations in Karachi.
Pakistani Hindu women dance during Holi celebrations in Karachi.
Pakistani Hindu women dance during Holi celebrations in Karachi.
Young Pakistani Hindus pose with water guns during Holi celebrations in Karachi.
Young Pakistani Hindus pose with water guns during Holi celebrations in Karachi.
A group of boys dance near a bonfire in Allahabad, India.
A group of boys dance near a bonfire in Allahabad, India.
Indians perform rituals around a bonfire in Allahabad, India.
Indians perform rituals around a bonfire in Allahabad, India.
Hindu devotees celebrate by seeing the deity of Krishna inside Banke Bihari temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, in Vrindavan, India.
Hindu devotees celebrate by seeing the deity of Krishna inside Banke Bihari temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, in Vrindavan, India.
Indian women smear colours on each others faces as they celebrate Holi in Allahabad, India.
Indian women smear colours on each others faces as they celebrate Holi in Allahabad, India.
Hindu devotees play with coloured powder in Hyderabad, India.
Hindu devotees play with coloured powder in Hyderabad, India.
Indian children react to camera as they celebrate Holi festival with colours and water in Vrindavan, India.
Indian children react to camera as they celebrate Holi festival with colours and water in Vrindavan, India.
Indian Border Security Force soldiers throw coloured powder at dancing village youths as they celebrate Holi festival in Ranbirsingh Pura, outskirts of Jammu, India.
Indian Border Security Force soldiers throw coloured powder at dancing village youths as they celebrate Holi festival in Ranbirsingh Pura, outskirts of Jammu, India.
Hindu devotees covered with coloured powder chant religious slogans inside Banke Bihari temple during Holi festival celebrations in Vrindavan, India.
Hindu devotees covered with coloured powder chant religious slogans inside Banke Bihari temple during Holi festival celebrations in Vrindavan, India.
A Hindu priest sprays coloured water towards devotees inside Banke Bihari temple during Holi festival celebrations in Vrindavan, India.
A Hindu priest sprays coloured water towards devotees inside Banke Bihari temple during Holi festival celebrations in Vrindavan, India.
Foreign tourists dance as they celebrate the Hindu festival of colours, in Katmandu, Nepal.
Foreign tourists dance as they celebrate the Hindu festival of colours, in Katmandu, Nepal.
Indian widows dance and throw flowers during Holi celebrations, at an event organised by the NGO Sulabh at the Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in Vrindavan, India. The widows, many of whom at times have lived desperate lives in the streets of the temple town, celebrated Holi for the first time at the century old ashram.
Indian widows dance and throw flowers during Holi celebrations, at an event organised by the NGO Sulabh at the Meera Sahbhagini Ashram in Vrindavan, India. The widows, many of whom at times have lived desperate lives in the streets of the temple town, celebrated Holi for the first time at the century old ashram.
An Indian widow dressed as a consort of Lord Krishna walks as others throw flowers during the festival of colours. The women were banished by their families after their husband's deaths to the town where devotees believe Lord Krishna was born, for supposedly bringing bad luck.
An Indian widow dressed as a consort of Lord Krishna walks as others throw flowers during the festival of colours. The women were banished by their families after their husband's deaths to the town where devotees believe Lord Krishna was born, for supposedly bringing bad luck.
Indian widows watch a traditional dancer during Holi celebrations.
Indian widows watch a traditional dancer during Holi celebrations.
Indian vendors sell coloured powder known as 'Gulal' prior to the festival in Siliguri.
Indian vendors sell coloured powder known as 'Gulal' prior to the festival in Siliguri.
A man is tossed into the air by his friends as they celebrate Holi in Kathmandu, Nepal.
A man is tossed into the air by his friends as they celebrate Holi in Kathmandu, Nepal.
An Indian school teacher dressed as Lord Krishna uses a watergun during Holi celebrations at Shri Ram Ashram Public School in Amritsar.
An Indian school teacher dressed as Lord Krishna uses a watergun during Holi celebrations at Shri Ram Ashram Public School in Amritsar.
Boys with coloured faces celebrate Holi in Kathmandu.
Boys with coloured faces celebrate Holi in Kathmandu.

Holi is a popular Hindu spring festival also termed as the festival of colours.  It is an annual riotous celebration which falls on the day after full moon in March. Revellers spray coloured powder and water on each other with great gusto while bathing in the jolly atmosphere and vivid colours. —Photos by Agencies/text by AFP

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