29 festive pictures of Holi celebrations around the world

Holi, also known as the festival of colour, was celebrated with zeal and vigour to mark the end of the winter season and to welcome the arrival of spring. The annual event is celebrated with colour, singing, dancing, drum playing and bonfires. Participants chase and cover each other in coloured powder to celebrate the colours of spring. In another ritual, women perform a ‘mock beating’ where they use sticks to beat the men of the local village.

Holi colours come alive in Karachi

Although the festival is primarily observed in India and Nepal, the celebration has spread to parts of Europe and America. Here we look at 29 pictures of how Hindu devotees celebrated Holi this year.