The ancient Hindu festival of Holi, which heralds the end of winter and the victory of good over evil, is marked with a national public holiday and sees revelers pour onto the streets.
Poofs of colored powder fill the air and people chase each other through parks, streets and other public places with water and colored paint.
Celebrated mainly in India, Nepal and other countries with large Hindu populations, Holi falls on the last full moon of winter. This month, the full moon occurs on March 23.
In the Braj region of India, the festival is celebrated for 16 days as a commemoration of the divine love between the Hindus Gods Radha and Krishna.