The Hindu festival of Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, begins on 12 March this year, but celebrations have already begun in many Indian states. From Hyderabad to Kolkata, Varanasi and Nandgaon village, people across India are already embracing the colourful powder, while others are still in the process of preparing it. IBTimesUK takes a look at the final preparations and celebrations, leading up to the festival:
A Hindu devotee displays his inked hand after taking part in the religious festival of Holi in Vrindavan, in the northern state of Uttar PradeshCathal McNaughton/ReutersHindu devotees take part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar PradeshAdnan Abidi/ReutersA Hindu devotee holds a water gun as he takes part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar PradeshAdnan Abidi/ReutersIndian devotees take part in a religious procession as they celebrate Holi with coloured powder on the occasion of the Rang Bhari Ekadashi festival in VaranasiSanjay Kanojia/AFPHindu devotees take part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar PradeshAdnan Abidi/ReutersStudents smear coloured powder at an event to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi in KolkataDibyangshu Sarkar/AFPA Hindu devotee is covered in coloured powder as he stands outside a temple during the religious festival of Holi in Vrindavan, in the northern state of Uttar PradeshCathal McNaughton/ReutersA Hindu devotee touches the outside of a temple as she takes part in the religious festival of Holi in Vrindavan, in the northern state of Uttar PradeshCathal McNaughton/ReutersPeople take part in the religious festival of Holi in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar PradeshAdnan Abidi/ReutersIndian Hindu devotees smear coloured powder on each other as they celebrate Holi during a traditional gathering in HyderabadNoah Seelam/AFPStudents smear coloured powder at an event to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi in KolkataDibyangshu Sarkar/AFPDevotees celebrate Holi, the spring festival of colours, during a traditional gathering at Nandgaon village in Uttar Pradesh stateAFP/Getty ImagesDevotees celebrate Holi, the spring festival of colours, during a traditional gathering at Nandgaon village in Uttar Pradesh stateAFP/Getty ImagesPeople take part in a religious procession as they celebrate Holi with coloured powder on the occasion of the Rang Bhari Ekadashi festival in VaranasiSanjay Kanojia/AFPPeople play two-headed drums during a religious procession as they celebrate Holi with coloured powder on the occasion of the Rang Bhari Ekadashi festival in VaranasiSanjay Kanojia/AFPGirls run for cover as boys spray coloured water on them inside a temple during Holi celebrations in Nandgaon village, in the state of Uttar PradeshAdnan Abidi/ReutersIndian Hindu devotees celebrate Holi, the spring festival of colours, during a traditional gathering at Nandgaon village in Uttar Pradesh, IndiaAFP/Getty ImagesHindu devotees celebrate the festival of Holi with coloured powder in VaranasiSanjay Kanojia/AFPAn Indian worker dries out eco-friendly herbal coloured powder ahead of the upcoming Hindu festival of Holi at a factory on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, IndiaSam Panthaky/AFPIndian workers dry out eco-friendly herbal coloured powder to be used in the upcoming Hindu festival of Holi at a factory on the outskirts of AhmedabadSam Panthaky/AFPPeople dry out eco-friendly herbal coloured powder to be used in the upcoming Hindu festival of Holi at a factory on the outskirts of AhmedabadSam Panthaky/AFPA man weighs packets of eco-friendly herbal coloured powder ahead of the upcoming Hindu festival of Holi at a factory on the outskirts of AhmedabadSam Panthaky/AFP
