INDIA (AP) — Millions of Indians on Friday celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi, dancing to festive music, exchanging food and drink, and smearing each other with red, green, blue and pink powder, turning the air into a joyful kaleidoscope of color.

N EW DELHI — Millions of people in South Asia celebrated Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, on Friday by smearing each other with brightly colored powder, dancing to festive music and feasting on traditional sweets prepared for the occasion.

The vivid festival marks the beginning of spring, symbolizes the defeat of evil and celebrates the love between the Hindu deities Krishna and Radha.

Holi, the Hindu festival of colour, is celebrated around the world, marked by raucous parties where people throw and smear coloured powder on each other.The festival, the celebrations for which begin on March 14 in many parts of India,

Holi expands well beyond the Indian continent. Hindus celebrate in Bangladesh and Pakistan, plus other countries with large diaspora populations like Suriname, South Africa, and Malaysia. The United Kingdom and the United States also hold parties, concerts, and events across the country, making it possible for many to join the festivities.

Holi, the annual colorful festival that marks the end of winter and beginning of spring, will be celebrated later this month across North Jersey.

Millions of people in South Asia are celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, by wearing bright powder, dancing and feasting on traditional sweets. The raucous spring festival sees Hindus take part in a kaleidoscopic celebration of the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.

Millions of people across South Asia have been covered in coloured powder as part of Holi, the Hindu festival of colours.

Hundreds of people were drenched by clouds of coloured powder at Southampton's first large-scale celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi. Observed by millions around the world, the event celebrates love,

Holi, a vibrant festival of colours, symbolises the eternal and sacred love of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna. As one of India's most important festivals, it is celebrated across the country with great enthusiasm.