Holi - Festival of colours

Dawn.com Published March 9, 2012
Indian Border Security Force personnel dance after daubing each other with coloured powders as they celebrate Holi festival at a camp along the border with Bangladesh near Agartala, capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura on March 8, 2012. 'Holi', also known as the Festival of Colors, is a major Hindu festival which symbolizes the advent of spring, and revelers celebrate by covering each other with colored powders. The colorful festival of Holi, that literally means 'burning', is celebrated on the full moo
Indian Border Security Force personnel dance after daubing each other with coloured powders as they celebrate Holi festival at a camp along the border with Bangladesh near Agartala, capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura on March 8, 2012. 'Holi', also known as the Festival of Colors, is a major Hindu festival which symbolizes the advent of spring, and revelers celebrate by covering each other with colored powders. The colorful festival of Holi, that literally means 'burning', is celebrated on the full moo
A boy smiles as he is applied coloured powder by other boys while celebrating Holi, also known as the festival of colours, in Kolkata March 8, 2012. The traditional event heralds the beginning of spring. ? Reuters Photo
A boy smiles as he is applied coloured powder by other boys while celebrating Holi, also known as the festival of colours, in Kolkata March 8, 2012. The traditional event heralds the beginning of spring. ? Reuters Photo
Physically challenged children celebrate holi, the festival of colors, at a school in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. ? AP Photo
Physically challenged children celebrate holi, the festival of colors, at a school in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. ? AP Photo
Boys daubed in coloured powder dance in an alley as they celebrate Holi, also known as the festival of colours, in Mumbai. ? Reuters Photo
Boys daubed in coloured powder dance in an alley as they celebrate Holi, also known as the festival of colours, in Mumbai. ? Reuters Photo
Indian men dance amid colored powder and water during Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, also heralds the coming of spring. ? AP Photo
Indian men dance amid colored powder and water during Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, also heralds the coming of spring. ? AP Photo
A teacher holds a plate with coloured powder before hurling it on her students as they celebrate Holi, also known as the festival of colours, in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad March 7, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
A teacher holds a plate with coloured powder before hurling it on her students as they celebrate Holi, also known as the festival of colours, in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad March 7, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
In this photo provided by the Indian Army, Indian Army and U.S. Army soldiers pose for a photograph after celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in the desert of Rajasthan, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. India and U.S. started a two week-long joint military exercise Monday in the Rajasthan desert to engage each other in a series of anti-terrorist and urban warfare drills, according to news reports. ? AP Photo
In this photo provided by the Indian Army, Indian Army and U.S. Army soldiers pose for a photograph after celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in the desert of Rajasthan, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. India and U.S. started a two week-long joint military exercise Monday in the Rajasthan desert to engage each other in a series of anti-terrorist and urban warfare drills, according to news reports. ? AP Photo
A physically challenged boy looks on during celebrations to mark Holi, the festival of colors, at a school in Mumbai, India. ? AP Photo
A physically challenged boy looks on during celebrations to mark Holi, the festival of colors, at a school in Mumbai, India. ? AP Photo
Tourists and Indians celebrate Holi by splashing water and colours in Kolkata on March 8, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Tourists and Indians celebrate Holi by splashing water and colours in Kolkata on March 8, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Tourists and Indians celebrate Holi by splashing water and colours in Kolkata on March 8, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Tourists and Indians celebrate Holi by splashing water and colours in Kolkata on March 8, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Flowers are thrown on Hindu devotees as they reach for a deity of Lord Krishna while celebrating "Holi," the festival of color, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from New Delhi, India, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Vrindavan is a famous place for Holi celebrations, where according to legend, the Hindu god Krishna played Holi with his consort Radha. ? AP Photo
Flowers are thrown on Hindu devotees as they reach for a deity of Lord Krishna while celebrating "Holi," the festival of color, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from New Delhi, India, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Vrindavan is a famous place for Holi celebrations, where according to legend, the Hindu god Krishna played Holi with his consort Radha. ? AP Photo
A young Hindu devotee tries to clean red dye from his skin after celebrating "Holi," the festival of color, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from New Delhi, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo
A young Hindu devotee tries to clean red dye from his skin after celebrating "Holi," the festival of color, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from New Delhi, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo
A Hindu throws colored powder as others crowd while celebrating Holi, the festival of color, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from New Delhi, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo
A Hindu throws colored powder as others crowd while celebrating Holi, the festival of color, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from New Delhi, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo
A man reacts as his face is smeared with colored powder during Holi festivities in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo
A man reacts as his face is smeared with colored powder during Holi festivities in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo
Tourists and Indians celebrate Holi by splashing water and colours in Kolkata on March 8, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Tourists and Indians celebrate Holi by splashing water and colours in Kolkata on March 8, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Pakistani Hindus collect colors to celebrate Holi, festival of colors in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo
Pakistani Hindus collect colors to celebrate Holi, festival of colors in Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, March 8, 2012. ? AP Photo

Each year, numerous people participate in the Holi festival all around the world. The festival celebrates the commencement of a fresh season of spring, bidding farewell to the cold winters.

It also encompasses a religious rationale, commemorating several proceedings that pertain to the Hindu mythology.

Throwing powder, dancing, participating in bonfire are all thrilling celebrations that are included in this fair. — Photos by Agencies, text by Shameen Khan/Dawn.com

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