Women preparing for Holi a day before the start of official Holi celebrations in Mathura
Colourful gulal powder on a man celebrating Holi in Barsane
Priests flinging gulal powder onto people at the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsane
Colourful gulal powder on a man celebrating Holi in Barsane
A rather creepy looking woman all covered up , with gulal all over her sari
Priests flinging gulal powder onto people at the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsane
Woman celebrating Holi in Barsane
A mother and her son rest at the top of an algae-filled stairwell during Holi celebrations in Barsane, India.
Protective bandage and headgear to be worn as part of the Lathmar Holi where women beat men on their heads with lathis (long sticks)
Protective bandage and headgear to be worn as part of the Lathmar Holi where women beat men on their heads with lathis (long sticks)
On the steps of the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsane.
On the steps of the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsane.
Red, smelly water being flung down onto Holi revellers by men on the rooftop of the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsana.
Red gulal powder being flung about inside the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsane.
Red gulal powder being flung about inside the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsane.
Red gulal powder being flung about inside the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsane.
Red gulal powder being flung down on Holi revellers at the courtyard of the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsana.
Red gulal powder and coloured water being flung down on Holi revellers at the courtyard of the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsana.
Hordes of people pushing to get into the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsana.
Holi revellers at the courtyard of the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsana
Holi revellers at the courtyard of the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsana
A man’s face is covered with thick red gulal powder in Barsane.
Sea of red at the Shree Radha Rani Temple in Barsana
A sadhu (religious man) in Nandgaon with the characters of Radha across his forehead
A woman holding up the Radha symbol for ink-stamping in Nandgaon
A man with the Radha character ink-stamped on his forehead
Portrait of a Holi reveller covered with pink gulal powder
Three men take a break from the mayhem of Holi being celebrated at Nanda Pha Bhavan Temple in Nandgaon, India.
Lots of men dancing and celebrating Holi at Nanda Pha Bavan Temple
A pretty woman’s face all covered with gulal powder
A sadhu who reminded me of Moses!
Portrait of a man celebrating Holi
Portrait of a sadhu who was ‘high’ on Bhang, a drink made from cannabis, that is drunk by men throughout Holi.
Holi Madness at Nanda Pha Bhavan Temple in Nandgaon
At Nanda Pha Bhavan Temple in Nandgaon
Holi Madness at Nanda Pha Bhavan Temple in Nandgaon
A melange of colours at Nanda Pha Bhavan Temple in Nandgaon, India
Lathmar Holi, at Nandgaon, where Indian women get a once in a lifetime opportunity to hit the men with long bamboo sticks (Lathmar), while the men cower under thick padded shields.
Lathmar Holi, at Nandgaon, where Indian women get a once in a lifetime opportunity to hit the men with long bamboo sticks (Lathmar), while the men cower under thick padded shields.
Lathmar Holi, at Nandgaon, where Indian women get a once in a lifetime opportunity to hit the men with long bamboo sticks (Lathmar), while the men cower under thick padded shields.
Lathmar Holi, at Nandgaon, where Indian women get a once in a lifetime opportunity to hit the men with long bamboo sticks (Lathmar), while the men cower under thick padded shields.
Woman making flower pieces at the Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura where Holi is celebrated
A sister tries to put red gulal powder on her brother’s face after he smeared some on hers.
Holi celebrations at Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura
Holi celebrations at Dwarkadhish Temple in Mathura
Holi is a time of celebrating with loved ones
Portrait of a sadhu covered with different coloured gulal powder
Boys having fun on the streets of Mathura during the Holi procession festivities.
Girls on the Holi procession floats in Mathura
A woman uses a bamboo stick to try and hit the boys who threw gulal powder on her!
The boy who was brave enough to throw gulal powder onto the woman with the long bamboo stick
Men on horseback during the Holi procession in Mathura
Even the buffalo had their horns painted
Widows making their way to the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan to celebrate Widows Holi.
Tiled wall fresco at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
Widows at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan, coming to say prayers before the start of the Widows Holi celebrations
Widows at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan, coming to say prayers before the start of the Widows Holi celebrations
Widows at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan, coming to say prayers before the start of the Widows Holi celebrations
Widow with clubbed feet leaving the temple prayer area at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan, after saying her prayers.
Widows having breakfast at the Shree Gopinath Temple, before the start of the Holi celebrations
Widows playing with the rose petals from the heap of petals, before the start of the Widows Holi celebrations at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
Widows tossing marigold petals, before the start of the Widows Holi celebrations at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
Portrait of a widow, at the Widows Holi festival at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
Portrait of a widow, at the Widows Holi festival at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
The strong gulal powders used at the Widows Holi
Marigold and rose petals being tossed upwards at Widows Holi.
Thousands of marigold and rose petals rain down on the widows at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan. Still shunned as outcasts who bring bad luck upon their family, these widows are now able to celebrate Holi at a special Widows Holi at this temple.
An aerial view of Widows Holi being celebrated in Vrindavan, as thousands of flower petals are thrown into the air, intermingled with the strong colours of the gulal powder being flung about.
Widows enjoying themselves at the Widows Holi; a sheer pleasure to watch.
Widows enjoying themselves at the Widows Holi; a sheer pleasure to watch.
Widows enjoying themselves at the Widows Holi; a sheer pleasure to watch.
Widows enjoying themselves at the Widows Holi; a sheer pleasure to watch.
Widows enjoying themselves at the Widows Holi; a sheer pleasure to watch.
A thick pink ‘haze’ of gulal powder and flower petals, as this widow sits and sings in an almost trance-like state.
Portrait of a widow, at the Widows Holi festival at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
Portrait of a widow, at the Widows Holi festival at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
A father and his daughters enjoying Widows Holi
The toes of a widow at Widows Holi
Portrait of a widow, at the Widows Holi festival at the Shree Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan
