Happy Holi 2016: How India is celebrating the festival of colours
The common thread in all this is — colours, happiness and a joyous welcome of Spring.

Holi is for Indian festivals what Taj Mahal is for Indian architecture. It would be safe to say that when people around the world think of India, many immediately imagine flashes of people immersed in colours, having a great time. Come March 24, they wouldn't be far from the truth. Indians celebrate Holi in various ways (some say over 15 types), be it the lathmaar holi in Barsana or the warrior holi in Punjab, there is the Dol jatra in West Bengal and the Yaosang in Manipur. The common thread in all this is — colours, happiness and a joyous welcome of Spring. Click through for stunning pictures of Holi celebrations from across India.
People celebrate the festival of colors or Holi in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. (AP Photo)

Youths celebrating Holi in the GIP Mall of Noida on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

The special children of Jiddha School are celebrating in Thane.
(Express photos by Ganesh Jadhav)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

Hindu devotees daubed in colours sing religious songs inside a temple during Holi celebrations in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Children in Lucknow enjoying colours on the occasion of Holi on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

The festival of colors being celebrated in in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. (AP Photo)

Devotees in large numbers enjoying Holi at Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Traditional Holika Dahan Pooja offering before Holi at Chendani Koliwada, Thane East, Mumbai on Tuesday Night. (Express Photo By Deepak Joshi)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

Students of a Vadodara school celebrate Holi with natural colours on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

Devotees going around the Holi fire in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. (Express Photo Javed Raja)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

Rituals were performed on the eve of Holi in the several part of Kolkata on March 22, 2016. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

Youths celebrating Holi in Noida. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

People celebrating Holi at a temple in Kolkata on March 23, 2016. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

PU students celebrate Holi in Panjab University campus on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Sahil Walia)
Also see: Happy Holi 2016: Colourful wishes, greetings and SMSes for your loved ones

Boys and girls throw coloured powder as they celebrate Holi in Shimla on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Lalit Kumar)

Devotees celebrating Holi at the historical Govind devji Temple in Jaipur on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Rohit Jain Paras)