It's Holi time
Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is celebrated all over India as the beginning of spring. The exuberant, high-spirited holiday is full of rich history and cultural significance.
Photo: Men daubed in colors sing religious songs as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A man sings religious songs as he celebrates "Lathmar Holi" at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 27, 2015.
In a Holi tradition unique to Barsana, men sing provocative songs to gain the attention of women, who then "beat" them with bamboo sticks called "lathis".
Holi, Festival of Colors
Men, covered with colored powder, celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh February 27, 2015.
'Holi' comes from the word 'hola', meaning to offer sacrifices or prayer as thanksgiving for a good harvest.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Men sing religious songs as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
Holi also celebrates the Hindu legend of Radha and Krishna which describes the extreme delight, Krishna took in applying color on Radha and other gopis, cow-herd girls.
Krishna's prank later became a trend and a part of the Holi festivities.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A boy with his turban completely covered by colored powder, celebrates "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Hindu devotees throw colored powder inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 1, 2015.
Holi is a spirited free-for-all carnival of colors, where children and adults play, chase and color each other with dry powder or colored water. Anyone is fair game.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Hindu devotees wait to go inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 1, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Hindu devotees pray inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 1, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A woman tries to protect herself as people throw colored powder on her inside the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 1, 2015.
Holi is a spirited free-for-all carnival of colors, where children and adults play, chase and color each other with dry powder or colored water. Anyone is fair game.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Indian Hindu men smeared with colors play Holi during Lathmar festival celebrations in Nandgaon, India, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
An Indian Hindu devotee from Barsana prostrates amid colors as he prays at the Nandagram temple, famous for Lord Krishna and his brother Balram, during Lathmar holi festival, in Nandgaon, India, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A Hindu devotee is smeared with colored powder as he visits the Nandagram temple, famous for Lord Krishna and his brother Balram, during Lathmar holi festival, in Nandgaon, India, February. 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A group of veiled women wait to beat men with sticks during "Lathmar Holi" at Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 27, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Indian Hindu women from Nandgaon village beat the shield of a man from Barsana during Lathmar festival celebrations in Nandgaon, India, February 28, 2015.
During Lathmar Holi the women of Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, beat the men from Barsana, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Men daubed in colors sing religious songs as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
The festival date varies every year, per the Hindu calendar, and typically comes in March, sometimes February in the Gregorian calendar.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A man throws colored water as he celebrates "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A student of Rabindra Bharati University closes her eyes as a fellow student throws colored powder on her face during celebrations for Holi in Kolkata, India, March 2, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
People throw colored powder as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
The festive celebration is also a time to forgive and forget in addition to celebrating spring; a time of renewal.
Holi, Festival of Colors
A man celebrates "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
People throw colored powder over the crowd as they celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Drenched in color, men take a break from celebrating "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Men daubed in colors celebrate "Lathmar Holi" at Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, February 28, 2015.
The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and most importantly the end of winter.
Holi, Festival of Colors
People spray colored foam on women as they walk in a lane near the Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 1, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Indian Hindu devotees, smeared with colors, sing songs at the Nandagram temple famous for Lord Krishna and his brother Balram, during Lathmar holi festival, in Nandgaon, India, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015.
Holi, Festival of Colors
Indian Hindu devotees from Barsana village pray at the Nandagram Temple, famous for Lord Krishna and his brother Balram, during Lathmar holi festival, in Nandgaon, India, February 28, 2015.