The Hindu festival of Holi celebrates the beginning of spring with huge splashes of color. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology, men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town.
The photos are awash in saturated colors. They offer a bit of visual relief from the gray leafless trees and brown grass of winter and remind us that spring is around the corner.
An Indian Hindu worshipper is dragged on the ground to cover his body in red colored dye during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon, India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
An Indian Hindu worshipper is covered in colored powder during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon,India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindus worshippers are covered in colorful powder thrown on them as they pray at the Radha Rani Temple during Lathmar Holi in Barsana, India, Friday, March 2, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Lord Krishna's village of Nandgaon are beaten by the women of Barsana, home of Lord Krishna's lover Radha. It is said that Lord Krisna's relatives used to tease Radha and her friends and were beaten by them in return. Even to this day, marriage between the two villages are not permitted. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindu men are covered in red powder thrown on them as they sit on the floor of the Radha Rani Temple during Lathmar Holi in Barsana, India, Friday, March 2, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Lord Krishna's village of Nandgaon are beaten by the women of Barsana, home of Lord Krishna's lover Radha. It is said that Lord Krisna's relatives used to tease Radha and her friends and were beaten by them in return. Even to this day, marriage between the two villages are not permitted. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindu worshippers pray as others throw coloured powder and water on them during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon, India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in coloured water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Young Indian Hindu worshippers from Barsana taunt men from Nandgaon before being sprayed with water during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon,India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindu worshippers pray during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon,India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
An Indian Hindu worshipper throws a bucket of colored water on others during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon, India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
An Indian Hindu woman from Barsana his the shield of a man from Nandgaon with a stick during Lathmar Holi in Barsana, India, Friday, March 2, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Lord Krishna's village of Nandgaon are beaten by the women of Barsana, home of Lord Krishna's lover Radha. It is said that Lord Krishna's relatives used to tease Radha and her friends and were beaten by them in return. Even to this day, marriage between the two villages are not permitted. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindu men from Nandgaon laugh as they wait to be hit with a stick by women from Barsana during Lathmar Holi in Barsana, India, Friday, March 2, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Lord Krishna's village of Nandgaon are beaten by the women of Barsana, home of Lord Krishna's lover Radha. It is said that Lord Krishna's relatives used to tease Radha and her friends and were beaten by them in return. Even to this day, marriage between the two villages are not permitted. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindu worshippers pray as others throw colored powder and water on them during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon,India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindu worshippers covered in various colored powders sing prayers during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon,India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindu men watch during Lathmar Holi at Nandagram Temple, in Nandgaon,India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Indian Hindus spray a woman making her way to the Nadgaram Temple during Lathmar Holi in Nandgaon,India, Saturday, March 3, 2012. According to tradition which has its roots in Hindu mythology men from Barsana arrive at the temple where they are soaked in colored water by men from Nandgaon, believed to be Lord Krishna's village, and then beaten by the women of the village with wooden sticks as they depart the town. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)f
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