NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the Holi festival, dancing to the beat of drums, smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets.
Free from wearing masks and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they drenched each other with colored water.
One of the most popular Hindu festivals, Holi provides an opportunity for people to come together, forget resentment and ill feelings toward each other.
"Wishing you all a happy and colorful Holi!" tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bollywood and other celebrities organized bashes for friends and posted photos on social media.
"People who work hard, play hard," said Ravi Sharma, a pharmacy owner.
The festival, which also marks the beginning of the spring season, celebrates the divine love of Hindu god Krishna with his consort Radha.
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On Tuesday night, people got into the mood by making bonfires with logs of wood in open spaces to commemorate the triumph of good over evil – Hindu god Vishnu killing a demon, Hiranyakashipu.
Holi traditions vary across India. In two northern towns, hundreds of women celebrated last week by playfully hitting men with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as part of a ritual.
Drinking is part of the celebrations. New Delhi reported a record sale of liquor on Monday, a whopping 2.6 million bottles sold on a single day, compared to the average of 1.1 million bottles, according to The Times of India newspaper.
Scenes from Holi celebrations in India
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Hindu devotees with offerings make way to reach the car which carried the deity Shri Krishna during the Holi festival in Kolkata, India, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People put colour powder to their friend to celebrate Holi festival, in Prayagraj, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them during celebrations marking Holi at the Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water.(AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Children play with color water as they celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, March 7, 2023.(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) ,
A girl throws collar powder during Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
A devotee throws colored powder to others during celebration of the Holi festival on the onset of spring in Kolkata, India, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water(AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them during celebrations marking Holi at the Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A girl smeared with colors celebrates Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them during celebrations marking Holi at the Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
