There's no way to avoid getting smeared with colored powder, hosed with water guns or hit with sparkle-filled water balloons if you venture out of your home in India on Friday.

Millions of people in South Asia are celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, by smearing each other with brightly colored powder, dancing to festive music and feasting on traditional sweets prepared for the occasion.

India on Friday celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi, a popular holiday in which thousands of people get together to throw colored powder and water at each other in anticipation of the arrival of spring.