India celebrated Holi this year with a lot of enthusiasm. People across the country celebrated the festival with sweets, bonfires and colours. Popularly known as the festival of colours, Holi is a Hindu festival, however, people of varied religion also celebrate it.
The festival is primarily celebrated across India and Nepal but people also celebrate Holi in various parts of South Asia. Holi marks the beginning of the spring season. The festival is celebrated two days, first day being Holika Dahan during which people sing, dance and party with their loved ones.
The next day people celebrate by applying colours on each other with dry powder, water balloons and "pichkaris." The day ends with people washing themselves and visiting friends and relatives with sweets. It is a festival that signifies victory of good over evil and also as a thanksgiving for good harvest. The celebration looks very beautiful as everyone is dipped in colours. Many celebrities also celebrate the day with high profile parties.
Commoners in Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmadabad and other places across India celebrated Holi 2016 and with great zeal. One of the important parts of Holi is "bhang," a drink made of buds and leaves of cannabis plant. People are seen getting into the festive mood by drinking "bhang" as it apparently makes them tipsy. Check some of the photos in the slideshow above of people celebrating Holi 2016 across India.
