Today people in India mark Holi, also known as the Festival of Spring or the Festival of Colors. The vibrant Hindu tradition is celebrated at the end of Winter, on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna — which is today! Similar to Mardi Gras, during Holi social restrictions are loosened. In India, Hindus from all classes and both sexes celebrate together, and people are expected to Read more

Decked out in their brightly colored Punjabi frocks, Indian college girls perform a traditional "giddha" dance to celebrate the Teej festival. Hindu women take part in the three-day celebrations surrounding this fasting festival, which ushers in the rainy season and is dedicated to the goddess Parvati. See more photos of the girls celebrating the festival with singing and dancing now! Read more

An Indian woman arranges brightly colored floral garlands made for wedding decor at a workshop with Gramshree, an organization that supports local artisans and their traditional crafts. By working with local women, Gramshree's mission is to help foster sustainable economic and social growth in India's rural, low-income, and slum areas. See more pictures of the Indian women working on quilts, Read more

Nobody welcomes Spring like Hindus. Much like Mardi Gras, Holi, the Spring festival of colors, celebrates mischief and merrymaking. But I'm going to wager it's the only religious festival that involves paintball-like rituals. Of course, it's not paint, but colored powdered and water. The tradition of throwing and smearing it on others dates back to the seventh century, and it's celebrated most Read more

Yogis from 36 countries kicked off the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh, India, with over 300 people performing the ancient exercise together. Not enough to beat the 10,000 yogis who practiced in Central Park last Summer, but yoga isn't about competition, right? It's about judgment. Read more

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The cast of Slumdog Millionaire lit up the red carpet last night, but back home the residents of Mumbai's slums enjoyed the special moment, too. Neighbors of the child actors gathered around TVs to watch anxiously and celebrated when the movie triumphed. Earlier this year, some poor Mumbai residents took issue with the term "slumdog," calling it derogatory. They even protested outside the Read more

Reports from luxury car makers and top international designers anticipating a booming Indian market, to teens using technology to flirt, demonstrate an emerging Indian middle class eager to spend its disposable income. Right now, the growing middle class is 300,000 strong. By 2010, India will boast 1.4 million millionaires. With all the talk of international economy woes, these pictures overflow Read more

Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron traveled around the globe this month promoting their action-packed drama Snow White and the Huntsman, out nationwide on June 1. The pair visited France, England, Germany, and Spain before Kristen headed to Mexico and Charlize popped up in Japan. Chris Hemsworth joined his costars at the beginning of the press tour, but opted to stay in London with newborn Read more