Women ‘beat’ men for teasing at Holi festival in India

Hindu men from the village of Nandgaon, smeared with colors, play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple. Image by (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Throwing coloured powder is a big part of the fun at the Lathmar Holi festival in the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna in Barsana, 115 kilometers (71 miles) from New Delhi, India.

However, for the local women the fun is heightened when they playfully beat men from the neighbouring Nandgaon village with lathis, while the men try to protect themselves with shields. Although they use wooden sticks in retaliation for teasing, it’s all in the spirit of fun and nobody gets hurt.

An Indian Hindu boy from the village of Nandgaon sits with others at the Ladali or Radha temple . Image by (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

As well as  throwing colour, another important part of the ritual is to put ladoos and flowers in plastic bags and throw them at each other, at the temple. At Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, the temple priests sprinkle blessed colour and coloured water on the devotees as a kind of prasad.

Hindu men from the village of Nandgaon throw colored powder at each other as they play holi at the Ladali or Radha temple. Image by (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

The ancient Hindu Spring festival celebrates love with colours and the fun and frolics take place outside buildings and temples.