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.

The vivid festival marks the beginning of spring, symbolizes the defeat of evil and celebrates the love between the Hindu deities Krishna and Radha.

The Indian festival of colors, Holi, serves as a powerful means of fostering cultural cooperation and strengthening people-to-people ties between Ethiopia and India, according to Anil Kumar Rai, India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.