India's Festival of Colors

A woman, face smeared with colored powder, participates in Holi festivities in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 1, 2010. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also heralds the coming of spring, is being celebrated across the country Monday.

Children, their faces smeared with colored powder, participate in Holi festivities in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 1, 2010. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also heralds the coming of spring, is being celebrated across the country Monday.

People smear colored powder on each other during Holi festivities in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 1, 2010. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also heralds the arrival of spring.

People dance as colored water pours on them during Holi festivities in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 1, 2010.

People dance under colored water being sprinkled during Holi festivities in Hyderabad, India, Monday, March 1, 2010.

People smear colored powder on an elephant during Holi festivities in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 1, 2010.

A girl stands under colored water being sprinkled during Holi festivities in Hyderabad, India, Monday, March 1, 2010.

Colored water splashes on women during Holi festivities in Allahabad, India, Monday, March 1, 2010.

People smear colored powder on each other, as seen though the gate of a house, during Holi festivities in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 1, 2010. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also heralds the coming of spring, is being celebrated across the country Monday.

A girl smeared with color throws colored powder as she joins in celebrations of Holi, the Hindu festival of color, in Vrindavan, India, Sunday, Feb 28, 2010.

Indian children smeared with colors look on as they celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colors, in Calcutta, India, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. The festival also marks the coming of spring.

Indian women smear a child dressed as Krishna, a Hindu god, as they celebrate Holi,, the festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. According to the legend of Krishna, the tradition of playing Holi started after Krishna smeared his beloved, Radha, with colors.

Children celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colors, in Calcutta, India, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. The festival also marks the coming of spring.

Devotees throw color as they celebrate Holi, the festival of colors, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, India, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010.

Devotees smeared with color celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of color, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, India, Sunday, Feb 28, 2010.

An Indian girl reacts as others throw color powder at her as part of celebrating "Holi" in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. The festival also marks the coming of spring.

School students smear each other with colors as they celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colors, in Allahabad, India, Friday, Feb. 26, 2010.