15 Unforgettable Moments of Holi - Bengali New Year

Today, India celebrates a stunningly beautiful and colorful holiday - Holi. We invite you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a riot of colors and blooming spring of one of the most incredible Hindu rituals for a few moments.

(Total 15 photos)

1. Holi, or the Bengali New Year, is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna, which falls at the end of February - March. (Photo: tierraindia.in)

2. At this spring festival, people indulge in general fun, forgetting about social norms. During Holi, Indians gather around public fires, douse friends and family members with paint and water, dance, and generally express their emotions very violently.

3. The holiday is associated with the story of how the god Shiva incinerated the god of love Kama with his third eye, who tried to bring him out of meditation, after which Kama remained incorporeal. But at the request of Shiva's wife Parvati and Kama's wife, the goddess Rati, Shiva returned Kama's body for 3 months a year.

4. When Kama takes on a body, everything around blooms, and happy people celebrate the most joyful holiday of love.

5. The flirtation of a young man and a girl during Holi is a favorite theme for dance. The young man lures the girl out, distracts her, she stares at something, and at that moment he smears her with colored powder or pours tinted water over her. The girl is offended, he asks for forgiveness (a characteristic gesture - he takes his earlobes). She forgives him and also in return pours colored water on him.

6. A rare and valuable opportunity for young people in the general severity of Indian mores. (Photo by Bikas Das/AP)

7. Participants in the action actively use the bhang drink, which includes either juice or hemp leaves and dairy products. Varieties of bhang: bhang lassi - yogurt with hemp leaf juice, thandai lassi - a mixture of milk, sugar, spices, almonds and, of course, hemp leaves (juice).

8. Thousands of people celebrating on the streets of the Indian city of Allahabad. (Photo by Rajesh Kumar Singh)

9. Holi in Kolkata

10. Kolkata

11. In a small village near the town of Matura

12. Allahabad, India

13.

14. Many tourists also try not to miss the chance to participate in this unforgettable event.

15. Bright and sunny Holi