Divine Love
Holi festival, also known as festival of colors, is an ancient Hindu tradition that celebrates the end of winter and the arrival of spring, the victory of good over evil, and the love between two Hindu deities.
In Mathura, Krishna's place of birth, and Vrindavan, the city where he spent his childhood, the festival occurs for 16 days. Here, the celebration is centered around the love legend between Radha and Krishna. Due to his blue color, a feature that would depress him, Krishna's mother told him to color Radha's face, his love, as a way to loose fear of prejudice. So did Krishna and both became a couple, being this the spiritual origin of Holi colorful festival.
During the celebration there ain't differences between peers, all are widely accepted, friends and strangers, rich and poor, men and women, kids and elders. Besides all the music and dance on the streets, lots of colored powder - gulal and colored water are thrown at the attendees. Religious devotion is also strong during the celebrations and the main Hindu temples are full of pilgrims that become entranced once the deity figure of Krishna is shown.
Throwing gulal over men's hands during Nandgaon Holi. India
Man dancing during Nandgaon Holi. India
Man dancing during Nandgaon Holi. India
Woman dancing during Nandgaon Holi. India
Woman dancing during the Holi festival in a village close to Mathura. Mathura, India
Woman dancing during the Holi festival in a village close to Mathura. Mathura, India
Women attending the Holi festival in a village close to Mathura. Mathura, India
Kids having fun during Holi festival in Mathura. India
Boy covered with colored water and gulal during Holi. Mathura, India
Man putting pink gulal in a foreigner girl's face during Holi. Mathura, India
Man praying during Holi. Mathura, India
Gulal being thrown inside Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations. Vrindavan, India
Man kneeling on the floor of Bankey Bihari temple. Vrindavan, India
Woman attending Holi celebrations inside Bankey Bihari temple Vrindavan, India
Man raising his arms in devotion during Holi celebrations inside Bankey Bihari temple. Vrindavan, India
Women praying inside Bankey Bihari temple during Holi celebrations. Vrindavan, India
Woman covering her face attending Holi celebrations inside Bankey Bihari temple. Vrindavan, India
Man covered in red inside Bankey Bihari temple while attending Holi celebrations. Vrindavan, India
Man covered with gulal and colored water inside Dwarkadhish temple while attending Holi celebrations . Mathura, India
