Snapshots

Holi Ke Rang

March 2026 · Issue 197

A crowd celebrating Holi in clouds of red and orange colour — Spice Route, March 2026

Holi is celebrated across India and also among the Indian diaspora across the globe with great enthusiasm. Observing the ancient Hindu mythological belief of good triumphing over evil, it is one festival that brings communities together.

Women in bright saris holding sticks during Latmar Holi, seen from above — The Holi celebration in Barsana - a quaint village in Uttar Pradesh is unique in many ways. Known as Latmar Holi, menfolk from the nearby village come to play Holi, and the women in return playfully beat them with sticks. This is an age-old tradition from the time of Radha and Krishna, and is still followed here.In Kolkata, this festival of colour is celebrated as ‘Dol Jatra’, and besides playing with colours and flowers, people enjoy the day dancing and singing.

Young women smeared with colour dancing at a Holi celebration — The Holi celebration in Barsana - a quaint village in Uttar Pradesh is unique in many ways. Known as Latmar Holi, menfolk from the nearby village come to play Holi, and the women in return playfully beat them with sticks. This is an age-old tradition from the time of Radha and Krishna, and is still followed here.In Kolkata, this festival of colour is celebrated as ‘Dol Jatra’, and besides playing with colours and flowers, people enjoy the day dancing and singing.

Devotees dressed as Radha and Krishna amid showers of flowers — People dress up as Radha and Krishna while devotees shower them with flowers during Holi celebrations.Holi is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Vrindavan. Devotees perform plays on the theme of Lord Krishna at Keshi Ghat. Visitors and devotees come in large numbers to be part of the celebration.In Varanasi, a devotee with a painted face as part of the Holi celebrations at the Manikarnika ghat.

A woman in an ornate headdress with a painted face — People dress up as Radha and Krishna while devotees shower them with flowers during Holi celebrations.Holi is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Vrindavan. Devotees perform plays on the theme of Lord Krishna at Keshi Ghat. Visitors and devotees come in large numbers to be part of the celebration.In Varanasi, a devotee with a painted face as part of the Holi celebrations at the Manikarnika ghat.

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