Indian artists pose after covering each other with coloured powder as they rehearse a dance for the upcoming Vasantotsav, 'the Festival of Spring' in Siliguri.Photo: AFP Indian artists cover each other with coloured powder as they rehearse a dance for the upcoming Vasantotsav, 'the Festival of Spring' in Siliguri.Photo: AFP An Indian widow watches as others dance as they celebrate Holi or 'festival of colours' in Vrindavan. Widows congregated on a small patio of the ashram in which they live and danced and played with colored powder to celebrate the occasion. The widows of this and other ashrams in this northern town are sponsored by the NGO, Sulabh International which funds most of their needs. Shunned from society when their husbands die, not for religious reasons, but because of tradition, many Indian widows have been otracized from society and no longer live with their families and are forced to beg for food. Almost 2,000 of the estimated 34 million widows currently living in India live in Vrindavan and benefit from the welfare extended by the NGO. Photo: AFP Two stray dogs play at the entrance of an ashram before Indian widows celebrate Holi or 'festival of colours' in Vrindavan. Photo: AFP Indian artists covered with coloured powder take a 'selfie' photograph as they rehearse dance for the upcoming Vasantotsav, 'the Festival of Spring' in Siliguri.Photo: AFP Indian widows throw petals as a sign of welcome on the arrival of Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of NGO Sulabh International which funds some Indian widows sheltering in ashrams, before playing Holi or the 'festival of colours' in Vindrava. Photo: ROBERTO SCHMIDT Indian widows dance as they celebrate Holi or 'festival of colours' in Vrindavan. Widows congregated on a small patio of the ashram in which they live and danced and played with colored powder to celebrate the occasion. The widows of this and other ashrams in this northern town are sponsored by the NGO, Sulabh International which funds most of their needs. Shunned from society when their husbands die, not for religious reasons, but because of tradition, many Indian widows have been otracized from society and no longer live with their families and are forced to beg for food. Almost 2,000 of the estimated 34 million widows currently living in India live in Vrindavan and benefit from the welfare extended by the NGO. Photo: AFP An Indian widow lies on a patio floor covered in flower petals and colored powder as they celebrate Holi or 'festival of colours' in Vrindavan. Photo: AFP An Indian policeman is covered in pink powder as he guards a government official visiting an ashram where widows celebrated Holi or 'festival of colours' in Vindravan.Photo: AFP Indian artists cover each other with coloured powder as they rehearse a dance for the upcoming Vasantotsav, 'the Festival of Spring' in Siliguri.Photo: AFP A woman covers herself as people throw coloured powder on her inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India. Photo: Reuters Hindu devotees raise their arms to catch flower offerings thrown by priests (unseen) inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India. Photo: Reuters Filipino and Indian participants covcovered in coloured powder take a 'selfie' photograph during an event to mark the Indian festival of Holi, the Festival of Colours, in Manila. Photo: AFP Hindu devotees wait to go inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Photo: Reuters Hindu devotees are showered with petals as they gather inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Photo: Reuters Indian artists cover each other with coloured powder as they rehearse a dance for the upcoming Vasantotsav, 'the Festival of Spring' in Siliguri. Vasantotsav, which is celebrated in the rest of India as Holi, is celebrated as a welcoming of Spring and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil with people chasing each other and playfully splashing colorful paint, powder and water on each other. Photo: AFP Men daubed in colours celebrate 'Lathmar Holi' at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In a Holi tradition unique to Nandgaon and Barsana villages, men sing provocative songs to gain the attention of women, who then 'beat' them with bamboo sticks called 'lathis'. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India. Photo: Reuters Men daubed in colours stand after celebrating 'Lathmar Holi' at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Photo: Reuters Indian Hindu devotees from Barsana village arrive at the Nandagram Temple, famous for Lord Krishna and his brother Balram, during Lathmar holi festival, in Nandgaon, India.Photo: AP Indian Hindu devotees smeared with colors, sing songs at the Nandagram temple famous for Lord Krishna and his brother Balram, during Lathmar holi festival, in Nandgaon, India. Photo: AP Indian Hindu women from Nandgaon village with their wooden sticks wait for men from Barsana village during Lathmar holi festival celebrations in Nandgaon, India.Photo: AP An Indian widow dances as she celebrates Holi or 'festival of colours' in Vrindavan. Widows congregated on a small patio of the ashram in which they live and danced and played with colored powder to celebrate the occasion. Photo: AFP Indian widows living at an ashram sit in a courtyard as they wait to participate in the celebration of Holi or 'festival of colors' in Vrindavan, about 150 kms south of New Delhi.Photo: AFP A widow daubed in colours takes part in Holi celebrations organised by non-governmental organisation Sulabh International at a widows' ashram at Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Photo: Reuters An Indian widow dances as they celebrate Holi or 'festival of colors' in Vrindavan. Photo: AFP A man daubed in colours sings religious songs as he celebrates 'Lathmar Holi' at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Photo: Reuters A boy with his turban daubed in colours celebrates 'Lathmar Holi' at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Photo: Reuters Men are seen covered in coloured powder as they celebrate 'Lathmar Holi' at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Photo: Reuters

of

Holi Festival is celebrated across India as a welcoming of spring and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, with people chasing each other and playfully splashing colourful paint, powder and water on each other.

Read more here:
India's Holi Festival, the Festival of Colour, kicks off