Holi 2018: Stunning photos of how India celebrated the festival of colours

Holi is observed on the day of Purnima, the full moon, in the month of Falgun over two consecutive days — the first day known as Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan and the second as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan. This year, Holi falls on March 1-2. The festival revolves around smearing colours on each others’ faces, splashing people with coloured water, heartily indulging in sweet delicacies and making merry. Indians celebrate Holi in various ways - the lathmaar holi in Barsana, the warrior holi in Punjab, the Dol jatra in West Bengal and the Yaosang in Manipur. The common thread in all of this is — colours, happiness and a joyous welcome to spring. Here are some pictures how India celebrated Holi this year.

Seen here people taking a selfie on Holi in Mumbai. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

A man throws flowers on devotees during Holi festival celebration at the Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmadabad. (Source: AP)

Sadhus at Jagannath temple offer puja during Holi celebration in Ahmedabad. (Source: PTI)

Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers dance as they celebrate the Holi festival at BSF headquarters at Khasa, on the outskirts of Amritsar. (Source: PTI)

Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers smear 'gulal' on Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) soldiers during 'Holi' celebration at India-Bangladesh Akhaura border near Agartala on Friday. (Source: PTI)

Artistes dressed as Lord Krishna and Radha pose for a photograph as foreign tourists throw flower petals and coloured powder during Holi celebration at Kalakriti in Agra. (Source: PTI)

People busy playing with colours on Holi in Juhu beach, Mumbai. (Source: Express Photo by Santosh Parab)

Villagers of Bandudhi at Baghmundi Gram Panchayat in Purulia district of West Bengal celebrated Holi with full fanfare. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)

Away from the hustle bustle of the city, small children enjoyed the festivities with neighbours, friends and family playing with gulaal. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)

Celebrating an eco-friendly Holi, little kids were seen playing with colours sans water. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)

men smear colour on each other at a Holi event in Dharavi near Mumbai. (Source: Express photo by Janak Rathod)

Residents of a locality come together to enjoy Holi in Dharavi. (Source: Express photo by Janak Rathod)

Little children enjoy the festival of colours in Kandivali. (Source: Express Photo by Dilip Kagda)

Seen here people enjoying the festival in Mumbai. (Source: Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

With time people find newer ways to enjoy the traditional festival. Seen here people of Mumbai dancing and enjoying Holi not just with colours and water but foam! (Source: Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Saints splash 'gulal' and offer flowers to god Dharmdev's Son Ghanshyam Maharaj (Lord Swaminarayan) on occasion of 'Holi' at Swaminarayan Gurukul in Surat. (Source: PTI)

Not just in India, Holi is also an important festival in Nepal. Seen here Nepalese people dance during Holi festival celebrations in Kathmandu. (Source: AP)

A local man throws color as another plays a traditional drum during Holi celebrations in Bhaktapur, Nepal. (Source: AP)

Pakistan too witness Holi celebrations in different parts of the country where Hindu population resides. Seen here youths from the Pakistani Hindu community with their faces covered with color celebrate Holi, the festival of colors in Karachi. (Source: AP)

Women from Pakistani Hindu community pose with their faces covered with color to celebrate Holi, the festival of colors in Karachi. This exuberant festival originally held to celebrate the fertility of the land, is also associated with the immortal love of Hindu God Krishna and Radha.(Source: AP)

The ritual of Holika Dahan on the occasion of festival of Holi was celebrated in Ahmedabad. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)

Holika or Holi is celebrated as a festival representing the victory of good over evil. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)

People encircle around the bonfire and dance reciting songs and chantings mantras like the Raksoghna Mantra from Rig Veda. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)

A vendor sells sweets on Chhoti Holi in Allahabad. Sweets like gujiyas seen here are an integral part of Holi celebrations. (Source: AP)

Children spray water during during Holi festival celebrations in Jammu. (Source: AP)

Tourist celebrates Holi or Dol Jatra against the backdrop of Pakhi Pahar at Purulia District in West Bengal. (Source: Photo by Partha Paul)

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Adorned with garlands made with palash, tourists play Holi in West Bengal on Dol Jatra. (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)

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This festival commemorates the combined celebration of two different festivals- Choti Holi (Holika Dahan) and Badi Holi (Rangwali Holi/ Dulandi). (Source: Express photo by Partha Paul)

Locals dance on a street and celebrate Holi in Kolkata. (Source: AP)

Performers dressed as Hindu deities Radha, center, and Krishana play Holi in Jammu. (Source: AP)

The festival signifies the arrival of spring, end of winter and for many a festive day to meet others and forgive and forgot. It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.

Girls smear colored powder on each other as they celebrate Holi in Jammu. (Source: AP)

Children laughed and had fun at the colour smearing on Holi in Mumbai Central. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakraborty)

Kids in wheelchairs smeared colours on each others' faces. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakraborty)

Differently abled kids play holi at the premises of the Society for the Education of the crippled at Agripada, Mumbai Central. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakraborty)

Women apply 'gulal' on each other during Basant Utsav at Rabindra Tirtha in Kolkata on Holi or Dol Jatra. (Source: PTI)

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Women apply colours on each other, sing songs during Basant Utsav on the occasion of 'Dol Jatra Festival' in Kolkata. (Source: PTI)

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People playing with colours at Manikarnika, Shamshan Ghat in Varanasi. (Source: Express Photo By Anand Singh)

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People celebrating Holi at Manikarnika, Shamshan Ghat in Varanasi. (Source: Express Photo By Anand Singh)

People gather around to celebrate the festival of colours at Manikarnika, Shamshan Ghat in Varanasi. (Source: Express Photo By Anand Singh)

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Foreigners celebrate Holi along with sadhus at Manikarnika, Shamshan Ghat in Varanasi. (Source: Express Photo By Anand Singh)

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Holi celebrations at Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan. (Source: Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Widows of Vrindavan celebrate the festival of colours at Gopinath Temple. (Source: Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

A widow smeared in colour during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan. (Source: Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Widows throwing colours at each other during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan. (Source: Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

A man fire up a colour smoke candle as a procession of Lord Krishna chariot proceeds through a street celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Kolkata. (Source: AP)

A woman from Barsana village beat a villager from Nandgoan with a wooden stick as he teases her during Lathmar holi festival celebrations, at the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana. (Source: AP)

During Lathmar Holi the women of Barsana beat the men from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town. (Source: AP)