The traditional Holi festival in India took place when hundreds of women playfully hit men with wooden sticks.

After two years of subdued revelry due to COVID-19, the Holi celebrations that began last week recreated the legend of the Hindu god Krishna spraying his consort Radha and her friends with red, yellow, green and saffron colors. 

The women were from Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, and the men were from Barsana, the legendary hometown of Radha.

The men wore turbans and held shields above their heads to protect themselves from the women’s hits in the mock battle.

The devotees, smeared in colored powder, then prayed at the Nandagram Temple near where Hindus believe the god Krishna and his brother Balram spent their childhood. The temple was built at the beginning of the 19th century.

Candy and drinks were given as gifts during the celebrations.

Some men were caught by women and made to dress like them. They then sang and danced along with the women.