Holi: How Do Indians Celebrate This Important Holiday?

The festival begins with a ritual called Holika Dahan when people pray, rejoice and light bonfires together. The next morning, people celebrate the holiday by showering colors on each other, singing and dancing while walking on the street as well as gathering with their families and friends.

Presently, Holi is celebrated not only in India but also in many other countries. For example, it is popular in North America, Europe, Latin America and some regions of Asia where many members of the Indian diaspora reside.

Sputnik has put together a photo gallery where you can see how the Holi festival is organized and celebrated in India!

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A worker prepares garlands of sugar candies ahead of the Hindu festival of Holi at a workshop in Ahmedabad on March 1, 2023.

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Women dance during the celebrations to mark Holi, the spring festival of colours, in Kolkata on March 5, 2023.

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Dancers perform during the celebrations to mark Holi, the spring festival of colours, in Ahmedabad on March 5, 2023.

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Young girls try to put colored powder onto each other as they to celebrate Hindu festival of color Holi, in Kolkata, India, Saturday, March 4, 2023.

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Hindu devotees with offerings make their way to reach a car carrying an idol of deity Krishna during Holi festival in Kolkata, India, Sunday, March 5, 2023.

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Men from Barsana village smeared with colors play Holi at Nandagram temple in Nandgoan village, 115 kilometers (70 miles) south of New Delhi, India, Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

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Villagers smeared with colours throw water at a motorcyclist during Lathmar Holi in Nandgoan village, 115 kilometers (70 miles) south of New Delhi, India, Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

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Workers prepare to dry 'Gulal' or coloured powder popularly used during the Hindu spring festival of Holi, before the packing process at a workshop in Mathura on February 25, 2023.

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In this photograph taken on March 1, 2023, Hindu devotees celebrate Holi, the spring festival of colours, during a traditional gathering at a temple in Nandgaon village of India's Uttar Pradesh state.

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Devotees dressed as Hindu god Krishna, dance during the celebrations to mark Holi, the spring festival of colours, at a temple in Amritsar on March 5, 2023.

Holi: How Do Indians Celebrate This Vital Holiday?