Holi - India's colorful festival
Holi, the popular Hindu spring festival, is one of India's most important holidays. The celebration marks the triumph of the spring season over winter and also good over evil.
Happy Holi
That long awaited time of the year is back for Indians when they celebrate the festival of colors, Holi. The festivities are a symbol of the triumph of good over evil. This year, the main Holi day falls on March 17.
Lord Krishna
The festival starts with religious offerings and then moves on to a feast full of color and traditional music. In the northern Indian city of Mathura, which is famous as the mythical birthplace of the Hindu God Lord Krishna, celebrations go on for 16 days.
Playful provocation
Barsana, a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, has its unique way of celebrating. The men sing provocative songs to women and the women pretend to be ward them off with sticks.
Embracing harmony
It's that time of the year when everyone forgets about personal animosities and embraces harmony. Relatives visit each other with gifts and no one minds getting covered in different colors.
Going with a 'Bhang'
One of the rituals on the day of Holi is to drink "Bhang." It is an intoxicating drink made by mixing milk with the leaves and flower buds of the cannabis plant.
Holi goes international
Holi is not just an Indian festival any more. It is celebrated in many parts of the world. In Germany, for instance, the festival is organized as an event in various cities throughout the year. This is a Holi celebration in Munich.
Welcoming the spring
The festival is also believed to be a way of thanking God for a good harvest and to welcome the spring season.
Techno with an Indian beat
A sunny day, techno music with an Indian beat and colours are enough to enjoy the event in Europe. Here is a Holi enthusiast in Dresden, Germany.
The colors
Traditionally the colors used were made out of flowers and leaves of plants like turmeric and saffron. Today chemical colours are used. But with growing environmental and health awareness, people are gradually turning to organic colours.
A feast for everyone
The festival is not only a time to cook good food and decorate houses. People also dress up their animals and include them in the celebrations.