On March 25, people stepped out of their homes to paint the streets in vibrant colours as they celebrated the festival Holi across India.
In fact, celebrations began the previous night with Holika Dahan - a bonfire that symbolises the victory of good over evil. Devotees walked around a bonfire during a ritual called Holika Dahan.
In North India, celebrations began in the morning with people assembling at temples and ghats, especially in Vrindavan, Mathura and Varanasi. Thousands of people have come there to ring in the festival of colours and play Holi.
Here are some snapshots from across the country:
Villagers from Barsana and Nandgaon smeared with colors play Lathmar Holi at Nandagram temple in Nandgoan village, 115 kilometers (70 miles) south of New Delhi, India, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Women from Nandgaon, the birthplace of Hindu God Krishna, beat the men from Barsana, the legendary birthplace of Radha, the consort of Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their efforts to put color on them. The same act is then replicated in Barsana between the women of that village and the men of Nandgaon as they observe the Lathmar Holi festival, a celebration of love and friendship.
People play with colour during Holi festival celebrations at a temple, in Sarangpur, Gujarat, Monday, March 25, 2024.
Women dance on a street while taking part in a procession to celebrate Holi, the festival of colors, in Kolkata, India, Monday, March 25, 2024.
A man throws flowers towards devotees during Holi festival celebration at the Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, March 25, 2024.
Youngsters play with colours during Holi festival celebrations, in Bengaluru, Monday, March 25, 2024.
Hindu saints pour flowers on another as they celebrate Holi festival at the Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, March 25, 2024.
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel celebrate Holi festival in Srinagar, Monday, March 25, 2024.
People visit the Juhu beach on Holi, in Mumbai, Monday, March 25, 2024.
People take part in Holi festival celebrations at Swaminarayan Temple, Ved road, in Surat on Monday.
Thousands of Swaminarayan devotees raise their hands to catch coloured water sprayed on them by saints during Holi festival celebrations at The Swaminarayan Temple in Ahmedabad on Monday March 25, 2024.
Youngsters enjoy playing with colours to celebrate Holi and rain dance in Visakhapatnam on Monday, March 25, 2024.
Youngsters enjoy playing with colours to celebrate Holi at the RK Beach in Visakhapatnam on Monday, March 25, 2024.
Children celebrate Holi by smearing one another with coloured powder in Erode in Tamil Nadu.
People celebrate Holi festival at Sowcarpet in Chennai on March 25, 2024
People celebrate Holi festival at Sowcarpet in Chennai on March 25, 2024
On the occasion of Holi, people play with colours in Coimbatore on March 25, 2024
People play with colours during Holi festival celebrations, in Hyderabad, on March 25, 2024.
People celebrate Holi, in Mandi, on March 24, 2024.
People participate in 'Holika Dahan' on the eve of Holi festival, in Patna, on March 24, 2024.
Chhau dancers perform during the Basanta Utsav celebrations, in Kolkata on March 24, 2024
People play with colours during Holi celebrations, in Kanpur, on March 25, 2024.
People play with colours and dance under a water spray on the occasion of Holi, in Pushkar, on March 25, 2024.
Holi celebrations on full swing in the Begum Bazar Chatri in Hyderabad on March 25, 2024.
