A woman covers her face as men throw coloured powder at her during Lathmar Holi at the village of Barsana in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, yesterday. In a Holi tradition unique to Barsana and Nandgaon villages, men sing provocative songs to gain the attention of women, who then “beat” them with bamboo sticks called lathis. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India.

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