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India’s vibrant Holi festival

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Lathmar Holi

People throw colored powder as they celebrate Lathmar Holi in Nandgaon, India, on Monday. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India.

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Lathmar Holi

In a tradition unique to Indian villages Nandgaon and Barsana, men sing provocative songs to women who then "beat" them with bamboo sticks.

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"Lathmar Holi

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder at each other as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117565 An Indian man shields himself from women beating with wooden sticks during the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu...

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throws colored powder on others as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple, before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival,...

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"Lathmar Holi

A man daubed in coloured powder poses for a picture at a temple during “Lathmar Holi” at village Nandgaon, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March 10, 2014....

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon are covered in colored powder as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival,...

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"Lathmar Holi

A veiled Hindu woman holds a bamboo stick as she celebrates “Lathmar Holi” at Nandgaon village, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March 10, 2014. In a Holi...

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"Lathmar Holi

Men drag a boy to the ground to cover him in red coloured water during “Lathmar Holi” at village Nandgaon in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March 10,...

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu devotees daubed in colours gather at the Radhe-Krishna temple to celebrate “Lathmar Holi” at the village of Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 9, 2014....

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Lathmar Holi

A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, is seen covered with coloured powder at a temple during “Lathmar Holi” at Nandgaon village, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March...

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu devotees throw coloured powder at each other as they celebrate “Lathmar Holi” at the village of Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 9, 2014. In...

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Lathmar Holi

A Hindu man from the village of Nangaon teases men from Barsana as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival,...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117551 Indian men shield themselves from women beating with wooden sticks during the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu spring...

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"Lathmar Holi

A man daubed in coloured powder sings a hymn at a temple during “Lathmar Holi” at village Nandgaon in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March 10, 2014. In...

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder on others as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival,...

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Lathmar Holi

A man covered in coloured powder sings a hymn at a temple during “Lathmar Holi” at village Nandgaon in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March 10, 2014. In...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117561 Indian women beat men with wooden sticks as they shield themselves during the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu...

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon covered with colored powder sit on the floor during prayers at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holy...

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu men from the village of Nangaon throw colored powder on others as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple before the procession for the Lathmar Holi festival,...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117408 Indian people celebrate the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu spring festival of colors. In Barsana, people celebrate a...

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Lathmar Holi

Indian women from Nandgaon village hold wooden sticks as they wait for the arrival of men from Barsana, during Lathmar Holi festival at Nandgaon 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117559 Indian women beat men with wooden sticks as they shield themselves during the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117404 Indian people celebrate the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu spring festival of colors. In Barsana, people celebrate a...

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Lathmar Holi

Indian Hindu boys throw colored water on a woman at the Nandagram Temple famous for Lord Krishna during Lathmar Holi festival in Nandgaon 120 kilometers ( 75 miles) from New...

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Lathmar Holi

Indian Hindu devotees covered in color pray as they arrive at the Nandagram Temple famous for Lord Krishna during Lathmar Holi festival in Nandgaon 120 kilometers ( 75 miles) from...

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Lathmar Holi

Indian Hindu devotees covered in color dances as they arrive at the Nandagram Temple famous for Lord Krishna during the Lathmar Holy festival in Nandgaon 120 kilometers (75 miles) from...

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Lathmar Holi

A Hindu devotee with his face daubed in colours looks on while taking part during “Lathmar Holi” at the village of Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh...

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Lathmar Holi

Hindu devotees daubed in colours gather at the Radhe-Krishna temple to celebrate “Lathmar Holi” at the village of Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 9, 2014....

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Lathmar Holi

Girls covered with coloured powder and water shiver from cold as they stand inside a temple during “Lathmar Holi” at Nandgaon village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...

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"Lathmar Holi

People throw coloured powder as they celebrate “Lathmar Holi” at Nandgaon village, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March 10, 2014. In a Holi tradition unique to Nandgaon...

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Lathmar Holi

Women cover their faces as men throw coloured powder at them during “Lathmar Holi” at the village of Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh March 9, 2014....

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Lathmar Holi

An Indian Hindu girl spreads a sari on the roof of her house to let it dry during the Lathmar Holi festival in Nandgaon 120 kilometers ( 75 miles) from...

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Lathmar Holi

RNPS – PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2013 – A Hindu devotee looks on in a cloud of coloured powder inside a temple during “Lathmar Holi” at the village of Barsana...

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Lathmar Holi

An Indian man from Nandgaon village, left, greets a villager from Barsana, right, as a woman from village Nandgaon waits with a wooden stick during the Lathmar Holy festival in...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117558 Indian men shield themselves from women beating with wooden sticks during the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu spring...

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Lathmar Holi

A Hindu woman is seen covered with coloured powder at a temple during “Lathmar Holi” at Nandgaon village, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, March 10, 2014. In...

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Lathmar Holi

epa04117412 Indian people celebrate the annual Lathmar Holi festival in Barsana village, Mathura, India, 09 March 2014. Holi is the Hindu spring festival of colors. In Barsana, people celebrate a...