Holi 2013: The Festival of Colors

This week Hindus around the world celebrated Holi, the Festival of Colors. Holi is a popular springtime celebration observed on the last full moon of the lunar month. Participants traditionally throw bright, vibrant powders at friends and strangers alike as they celebrate the arrival of spring, commemorate Krishna’s pranks, and allow each other a momentary freedom — a chance to drop their inhibitions and simply play and dance. Gathered here are images of this year’s Holi festival from across India. From The Atlantic

A Hindu devotee, face smeared with colored powder, leaves the Banke Bihari temple during Holi celebrations in Vrindavan, India, on March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Indian Hindu devotees throw colored powder at the Radha Rani temple during the Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana, on March 21, 2013. Lathmar Holi is a local celebration, but it takes place well before the national Holi day on March 27.(Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images)

Indians throw colored powder during Holi festival celebrations in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, March 27, 2013.(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Hindu men rest during Lathmaar Holi celebrations on March 22, 2013 in the village of Nundgaon near Mathura, India.(Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

A transgender Hindu devotee dances during Lathmaar Holi celebrations on March 21, 2013 in Barsana, India.(Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Colored powder is thrown on Hindu men from the village of Nandgaon as they sit on the floor during prayers at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival, the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna, in Barsana, India, on March 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Hindu devotees play with color during Holi celebrations at the Banke Bihari temple on March 27, 2013 in Vrindavan, India.(Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

An Indian child reacts as colored powder is smeared on her hair during Holi festival in Chennai, India, on March 27, 2013. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors that also marks the advent of spring, is being celebrated across the country Wednesday. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

Can you resist seeing the rest of these joyful images, if not go here

Pictures of the Week: March 9, 2012

“An Indian man dances amid a cloud of colored powder during Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, also heralds the coming of spring.

Jerry Vonderhaar, left, comforts Charles Kellogg after severe weather hit the Eagle Point subdivision in Limestone County, Ala. on Friday, March 2, 2012. A reported tornado destroyed several houses in northern Alabama as storms threatened more twisters across the region Friday.

Quarterback Peyton Manning, who will be released by the Indianapolis Colts, speaks during a news conference in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Manning, 35, who missed all of last season after a series of operations on his neck, has been the Colts’ staring quarterback for 13 seasons, won a record four MVP awards and the 2006 Super Bowl.”

From the pblogs of The Denver Post

1

An Indian man dances amid a cloud of colored powder during Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Thursday, March 8, 2012. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, also heralds the coming of spring. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) #

2

Members from a military band perform during the rehearsal ahead of the opening ceremony of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People on March 3, 2012 in Beijing, China. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference opens on March 3 in Beijing. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images) #

3

Tourists carry umbrellas as they look at the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero square in Paris, on March 7, 2012. FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images #

4

Afghan National Army soldiers walk up a hill as they arrive for a training session at the Kabul Military Training Center, KMTC, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, March 8, 2012. The Afghan National Army will be tasked with providing security throughout Afghanistan after the last international troops pull out in 2014. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) #

SEE MORE HERE