Colourful Holi celebrations return

The colourful displays of Holi, the Hindu spring festival, are back on the streets of India and Nepal. This follows two years where they were suspended due to Covid-19.

The festival carries hopes for love and fresh starts. People are encouraged to forgive past errors and it's a time to repay your debts and to end disagreements. Holi's also a wish for a good spring harvest.

People cover each other in colours by throwing special powders. Each colour represents something different, with red for love, and green for spring and new life. Blue's for Hindu god Krishna, and yellow's for turmeric, which has healing properties.

The powders were traditionally homemade from natural ingredients. They're now mostly mass produced but are still water-based. Children enjoy making and throwing water balloons, which cover the crowds in coloured paint. Everyone's a target at Holi, and everyone ends up soaking wet with their faces covered in paint.

As Hindu culture and people have travelled across the globe, Holi's become a worldwide festival. People are sharing and learning its meaning and history.

Family get-togethers are a vital part of Holi. This year's Holi is more celebrated than most, now that people are able to mix again after the pandemic.

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