Holi festival kicks off in India as Hindus dress up in bright clothes & chuck coloured powder to celebrate end of winter

THE annual Holi festival has kicked off in India as Hindus dress up in bright clothes and hurl coloured powder at each other to celebrate the end of winter. The raucous spring festival sees millions across the country take part in a kaleidoscopic celebration of the triumph of good over evil. APPeople cheer as colored powder and flower petals are thrown on them during celebrations in Ahmedabad, India[/caption] APColoured powder is smeared on the face of a reveller in Mumbai, India[/caption] APPeople celebrate Holi in Jammu, India[/caption] The festivities peak on Friday when a public holiday sees large street carnivals around the country. The party started early in the northern city of Vrindavan, where elderly women daubed in splotches of saffron danced the day away together. The Covid pandemic derailed last year’s Holi party, with the capital New Delhi and several states banning public gatherings. The Holi festival is an annual Hindu celebration held in India, Nepal and South Asian countries and it is also known as the “festival of love” and the “festival of colours”. Read more world news DEADLY ARSENAL Inside Putin’s war chest bought from EU with tank tech 'in nuke plant blitz' DIRECT HIT Moment Ukrainians with laser-guided missiles and Javelins blow up Russian tanks Hindus celebrate by smearing coloured powder over one another, dancing under water sprinklers, and using water balloons and water guns. It’s based on the legend of Krishna, who was self-conscious about the blue colour of his face, due to being poisoned by breast milk. He was in despair because he believed Radha and other girls wouldn’t like him. He told his mother, who advised him to paint his face so that his colour didn’t matter. Most read in News VLAD'S GOING ON? Moment Putin has speech mysteriously cut off during rally in Russia SICK VLAD Nine chilling signs Putin is ‘suffering serious disease & on verge of breakdown’ LOSING BATTLE Putin's paratroop commander killed as Russia's elite fighters face massacre FERRY FALLOUT Huge queues at ports after 'appalling' P&O sacks 800 staff and axes routes DEMORALISED Russian troops 'shoot themselves in the LEGS to avoid fighting in Ukraine' EU SHAME France, Germany and Italy dodged Russia arms embargo to sell weapons to Putin Now it is celebrated by thousands of people throwing paint around and getting covered in different colours. After a day of play with colours, people clean up, wash and bathe, sober up and dress up in the evening and greet friends and relatives by visiting them and exchanging sweets. Pictures show millions of revellers dancing in the streets, throwing coloured powder at each other and setting off brightly coloured flares in cities across India. One image shows artists dressed as Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha dancing as they celebrate Holi at a temple in Amritsar, while another shows delighted children hurling coloured powder and playing with water balloons. ReutersHindus pray as they are sprayed with coloured water during Holi celebrations in Ahmedabad, India[/caption] APPeople celebrate Holi in Jammu, India[/caption] APA reveller smeared in coloured powder in Hyderabad, India[/caption] APPeople smear coloured powder on a boy as they celebrate Holi in Jammu, India[/caption] AFPRevellers celebrate Holi in Chennai[/caption] ReutersA boy reacts as coloured powder is thrown on his head in Kolkata, India[/caption] APPeople celebrate the Hindu festival of colours in Hyderabad, India[/caption] ReutersCelebrations in Kolkata, India[/caption] APPeople celebrate Holi in Jammu, India[/caption] AlamyA girl celebrates the Holi festival in Mendhar area of Poonch[/caption] EPARevellers stained with coloured powder cheer during the celebrations in Chennai, India[/caption] APA man dances as he celebrates Holi in Jammu, India[/caption] AFPArtists dressed as Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha dance at a temple in Amritsar[/caption]