Holi

Indian Hindu widows celebrate Holi

Indian Hindu widows celebrate Holi

14 Photos

Locals and Indian Hindu widows throw participated in Holi celebrations at the Gopinath temple, 180 kilometres (112 miles) south-east of New Delhi, India, on Monday. A few years ago this joyful celebration was forbidden for Hindu widows. Like hundreds of thousands of observant Hindu women, they would have been expected to live out their days in quiet worship, dressed only in white, their very presence being considered inauspicious for all religious festivities.

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Russia-Crimea treaty signing, fire-breathing, more Holi celebrations | March 18

Russia-Crimea treaty signing, fire-breathing, more Holi celebrations | March 18

13 Photos

Russian President Vladimir Putin and two Crimean leaders signed the treaty making Crimea part of Russia, Indian Sikh youths performed fire-breathing, Holi celebrations marking the start of spring continued, and more in today’s daily brief.

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March 25 Photo Brief: Spring snow on the East Coast, Supreme Court takes on Prop. 8, rebels capture Central African Republic, a 130 ft Lord Buddha statue

March 25 Photo Brief: Spring snow on the East Coast, Supreme Court takes on Prop. 8, rebels capture Central African Republic, a 130 ft Lord Buddha statue

21 photos

Spring snow on the East Coast, Supreme Court takes on Prop. 8, rebels capture Central African Republic, a 130 foot Lord Buddha statue and more in today’s daily brief.

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Holi celebrations begin in India with local festival

Holi celebrations begin in India with local festival

24 photos

On March 27, Hindus across India and the Indian diaspora will observe Holi, a festival that in part marks the beginning of spring. In celebration, Hindu devotees spend the day smearing colored powder on each other’s faces and throwing colored water at friends and family, leading to Holi’s status as India’s “Festival of Colors.”

Local Holi celebrations often begin earlier, including Lathmar Holi in the northern Indian town of Barsana. Unique to the Lathmar Holi tradition is a ceremony where women use long sticks to beat men who sing provocative songs to invite their attention.

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