Rang de Basanti: India celebrates Holi

We take a look at Holi celebrations across the country, and beyond. 

Holi, the festival of colours marks the beginning of the spring season and an end to winters.

The festival is described as an ancient Hindu spring festival which originated from the Indian subcontinent.

The festival begins with the burning of 'Holika Dehan' at night followed by celebrations with colours and water the next day.

Clouds of colours in the air, kids running armed with pichkaris, gulal smeared faces, bhang spiked thandai, gujia and dahi vadas beautifully served in plates is how Holi is celebrated in different ways in India.

 

Besides India, Holi is also celebrated in Pakistan, India and Nepal. Over the years the festival has also spread to other parts of Asia and the western world.

Traditionally associated with Lord Krishna, the localities in the Braj Region, like Agra, Mathura, Nandgaon, Vrindavan, and Barsana, are the major tourist attractions during the Holi season.

In these localities, especially in Barsana, people celebrate Lath mar Holi in the Radha Rani temple’s compound. In this ritual, women beat up men with sticks (Lathi) as the men sing Holi songs. This unique form of celebration denotes men singing to gather women’s attention and women protecting themselves by chasing men away with sticks.

Pakistani Hindu women smeared with colours celebrate the Holi festival in Karachi.