Celebrating Holi - the Hindu festival brings its array of colours to India and elsewhere

10 hours agoCherylann MollanGetty ImagesThe festival is celebrated across India, but is most popular in northern and eastern statesMillions of people are celebrating Holi, the festival of colours, in India and across the world.The spring festival, which celebrates the victory of good over evil, also marks the end of winter.People offer prayers, smear bright colours on family and friends and eat traditional food and sweets to celebrate. They also gather on the streets and throw colours on each other.Holi is based on the Hindu legend of Holika, a female demon, who tries to kill her nephew Prahlad because he worships the Hindu god Vishnu. But Prahlad miraculously survives the burning fire even as Holika is consumed by the flames.People light bonfires the evening before Holi in the belief this will destroy the bad so that good can triumph.Many devotees also believe the festival honours the divine love of Hindu deities Radha and Krishna. Colourful celebrations are held in the northern Indian cities of Mathura and Vrindavan, which are associated with Krishna's birth and childhood.Music plays a big role as people dance to traditional and film songs celebrating Holi as they throw colours.Children use toy pistols and dispensers to squirt coloured water at their friends.A traditional beverage called thandai, a milk-based drink sweetened with dry fruits, is enjoyed on the day.Holi is also celebrated with enthusiasm in Nepal, which has a majority Hindu population.Getty ImagesOn Holi, many people come out on the streets and throw colour on each otherGetty ImagesBright colours in shades of reds, pinks, yellows and greens are smeared on friends and family to celebrate the festivalGetty ImagesWhile Holi is a Hindu festival, people across religions often join in the festivitiesGetty ImagesHuge crowds gather in many places across northern India to celebrateGetty ImagesA day before Holi, people light huge bonfires to mark the victory of good over evilGetty ImagesThe festival is also celebrated by the Indian diaspora abroad. Here, Hindus in Kenya are celebrating HoliReutersChildren play with water pistols or throw balloons filled with water and colour on each otherGetty ImagesGujiya, a deep-fried sweet stuffed with coconut and dry fruits, is enjoyed on HoliGetty ImagesHoli is also celebrated enthusiastically in Nepal, which has a majority Hindu populationGetty ImagesIn Vrindavan, Hindu widows celebrate the festival by throwing flower petals and colour on each otherGetty ImagesTourists also partake in the celebrations to experience a slice of Indian cultureGetty ImagesShops and market stalls, such as this one in Kolkata, began selling coloured powder and water pistols days before the festival