Millions of people across India celebrate Holi, advent of spring

The spring festival sees people take part in a kaleidoscopic celebration of the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil

- 

Millions of people in South Asia celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, on Friday by smearing each other with brightly colored powder, dancing to festive music and feasting on traditional sweets prepared for the occasion.

The spring festival sees Hindus take part in a kaleidoscopic celebration of the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.

The festival is a national holiday in India, while in Nepal it’s a two-day event that began Thursday. It’s also observed in other South Asian countries as well as among the Indian diaspora.

Holi has its origins in Hindu mythology and lore and celebrates the divine love between the Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha, and signifies a time of rebirth and rejuvenation.

Across the country, people, mostly dressed in all white clothes, celebrated the festival by hurling colored powder at each other. Children, perched on rooftops and balconies, flung water balloons filled with colored pigments at passersby.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that no other country or religion in the world has a festival tradition as rich as Sanatan Dharma. “Our faith is the strength of Sanatan Dharma, and the soul of this faith lies in its festivals,” he said.