N EW DELHI — Millions of people in South Asia celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, on Friday by smearing each other with brightly colored powder, dancing to festive music and feasting on traditional sweets prepared for the occasion.

Holi, celebrated with color and traditional festivities across India, emphasized unity amid diversity. Security was tightened in various states coinciding with Ramadan prayers. Political leaders underscored messages of unity while festivities unfolded across regions,

The colourful festival of Dhulandi, also known as Rang Wali Holi, is celebrated on 14 March. The two-day celebration began with Holika Dehan on 13 March with a bonfire, symbolizing the burning away of evil.

Foreign tourists in Mumbai and Jaipur joined locals in celebrating Holi, experiencing the festival of colours for the first time. At Marine Drive in Mumbai, a tourist from London shared in excitement: “I came here for some work but I also got to enjoy Holi for the first time.

Holi, the annual colorful festival that marks the end of winter and beginning of spring, will be celebrated later this month across North Jersey.

Millions of Indians are celebrating Holi, the festival of colours. The spring festival symbolises the victory of good over evil and marks the end of winter. People light a bonfire, smear or spray friends and family members with colour and water,

Spring’s arrival may be uncertain after the groundhog’s prediction, but Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, which takes place March 14 this year, brings a vibrant promise: a fresh start, community joy and a chance to leave negativity behind.

Villagers from Barsana and Nandgaon smeared with colors participate in Lathmar Holi at the Nandagram temple in Nandgoan village, 115 kilometers (70 miles) south of New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 9, 2025.

The Hindu festival of Holi is celebrated by millions of people around the world. It's known as the festival of love, colours and spring, and people throw coloured powder and water at each other to mark the occasion.

Thousands of widows in India's holy town of Vrindavan marked the Hindu festival of colors "Holi", with bright colored dyes and flower petals on Wednesday (March 12). The festival heralds the beginning of spring and will be officially celebrated on March 14 this year.