Holi, festival of colours - in pictures

Gopis, men from Nandgaon, about to be hit with a stick by a Barsana woman during Lathmar Holi Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

A man daubed in 'gulal', the ritual red colour powder, slides in celebration Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

On Holi, people greet each other with customary splash of colour, often spraying or pouring bucket full of coloured water - and the greetings are returned with equal gusto! Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Worshippers pray and chant amid a cloud of coloured powder and water Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

A man covered in 'gulal', coloured powder in Barsana, Mathura Photograph: Harish Tyagi/EPA

A woman is sparyed with coloured water as she makes her way to the Nadgaram temple Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Women wait with wooden sticks in Nandgaon Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

Worshippers from Barsana are sprayed with coloured water by men from Nandgaon Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Men drenched in coloured water and coats of paint sing a hymn at a temple Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Worshippers covered in powder thrown on them as they pray at the Radha Rani temple in Barsana Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Worshippers covered in coloured powders sing hymns and prayers Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Wearing all the colours Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP