Hinduism’s spring festival of colors

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Indians celebrate the arrival of spring with their annual Holi Festival of Colors. During the festival, people get to throw colored powders and liquids on others, creating one of the most vibrant atmospheres of the year. Each color used at the festival signifies something different: Red means love and fertility; blue is the color of Krishna, the Hindu deity; yellow is the color of turmeric, and green symbolizes spring and new beginnings. Here is a selection of some of the best images from this year’s festival of love and colors. AP

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An Indian man throws colored powder on a woman as they celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the… AP

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An Indian girl applies colored powder on a her friend as they celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds… AP

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Indian girls take selfie as they celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the arrival of spring. (AP Photo/Rafiq… AP

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Indian revelers dance as color is sprayed at them during celebrations to mark Holi, the Hindu festival of colors in Allahabad, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds… AP

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Indian children smear color on each other’s face during the Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the arrival or spring. (AP Photo/ Anupam… AP

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Indians dance as colors are sprayed during the Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the arrival or spring. (AP Photo/ Anupam Nath) AP

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A Bangladeshi woman reacts as colored powder is thrown on her face during celebrations marking Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, March 13, 2017. (AP Photo/… AP

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Bangladeshi youth throw colored powder during the celebrations marking Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, March 13, 2017. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad) AP

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Indians dance as colors are sprayed during the Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the arrival or spring. (AP Photo/ Anupam Nath) AP

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Indians dance as colors are sprayed during the Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the arrival or spring. (AP Photo/ Anupam Nath) AP

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A man wearing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mask dances as colors are sprayed during the Holi celebrations in Gauhati, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the… AP

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MATHURA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA – 2017/03/05: A Hindu devotee takes part in Laddu maar Holi at “Radha Rani Temple” at Barsana, Mathura in India. (Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket… Getty Images

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MATHURA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA – 2017/03/05: A Hindu devotee takes part in Laddu maar Holi at “Radha Rani Temple” at Barsana, Mathura in India. (Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket… Getty Images

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MATHURA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA – 2017/03/05: A Hindu devotee takes part in Laddu maar Holi at “Radha Rani Temple” at Barsana, Mathura in India. (Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket… Getty Images

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A laborer sifts colored powder, known as gulal, to be used during the forthcoming spring festival of Holi. Getty Images

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MATHURA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA – 2017/03/05: Hindu devotees take part in Laddu maar Holi at “Radha Rani Temple” at Barsana, Mathura in India. (Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket via… Getty Images

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MATHURA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA – 2017/03/05: A Hindu devotee takes part in Laddu maar Holi at “Radha Rani Temple” at Barsana, Mathura in India. (Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket… Getty Images

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MATHURA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA – 2017/03/05: A Hindu devotee takes part in Laddu maar Holi at “Radha Rani Temple” at Barsana, Mathura in India. (Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket… Getty Images

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A Hindu devotee takes part in Holi at Barsana, Mathura in India. Getty Images

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A man throws coloured powder during Holi celebrations in the town of Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, March 6, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton Reuters

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People throw coloured powder during Holi celebrations in the town of Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh

People throw colored powder. Reuters

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Women cover their faces during Holi celebrations in the town of Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh

Women cover their faces during Holi. Reuters

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Men blow coloured powder during Holi celebrations in the town of Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh

Men blow colored powder during the spring festival of Holi in the town of Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Reuters

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A woman poses for a photograph during Holi celebrations in the town of Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh

A woman poses during Holi celebrations. Reuters