The long weekend started off with the splendid and vibrant festival of Holi, setting off some wild and picturesque celebrations of the beloved holiday. From the streets of Kolkata and widows of Vrindavan to the borders of Srinagar, here is pictorial proof of India’s favourite festival, being honoured quite gloriously!
1. Rajasthan (Pushkar)
(Holi Celebrations in Pushkar, Image by Nirvair Singh Rai)
(The “kapda phaar” tradition of Holi, in Pushkar in Rajasthan by REUTERS/Himanshu Sharma)
( Image by Nirvair Singh Rai )
(Image by Nirvair Singh Rai )
2. Uttar Pradesh
( Lathmar Holi, where women beat the men with sticks, in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh by REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton.)
(Hindu devotees at Nandgaon temple in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, March 18, 2016. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee)
(Widows playing Holi organised by non-governmental organisation Sulabh International at a temple at Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh by REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee)
(Widows celebrate Holi in Vrindavan, UP. Image by Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters)
(Lathmar Holi in the town of Barsana in Uttar Pradesh by REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton)
3. Mumbai, Maharashtra
(The special children of Jiddha School celebrating holi in Thane. Express photo by Ganesh Jadhav,Thane)
(Posing for a selfie while celebrating Holi in Mumbai, India, by REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade)
(Image by REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade)
(Image by REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade)
4. Delhi & Noida
( Coloured powder during Holi celebrations in New Delhi by REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee)
(Noida, Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)
5. Ahmedabad, Gujarat
(Hindu devotees are water gunned with colours outside a temple during Holi celebrations in Ahmedabad by REUTERS/Amit Dave)
(More Holi celebrations in Ahmedabad, India, March 23, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave)
( Dancing and celebrating Holi in Ahmedabad by REUTERS/Amit Dave)
6. Kolkata
(AP Photo/Bikas Das)
( The multitude of colours sold by road side vendors in Kolkata by REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri)
(Men dancing in the streets Kolkata by REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri)
7. Srinagar, Kashmir
(A Border Security Force (BSF) soldier enjoying the celebrations at their camp in Humhama, on the outskirts of Srinagar, REUTERS/Danish Ismail)
(Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers with their faces smeared in coloured powder take a selfie during Holi celebrations at their camp in Humhama, on the outskirts of Srinagar by REUTERS/Danish Ismail)
8. Punjab
(Image by REUTERS/Ajay Verma)
(“Nihangs” or Sikh warriors also ride horses and perform various stunts to show off their prowess, in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. Holla mohalla is a Holi centered congregation of Sikhs from all over the country by REUTERS/Ajay Verma)
(During Holla Mohalla “Nihangs” or Sikh warriors, wear a traditional 425-metre-long turbans, holds their weapons and take part in a holy procession. This happened in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, by REUTERS/Ajay Verma)