The festival of Holi was celebrated throughout the country to mark the occasion and ward off evil spirits in ritual called Holika Dahan.

Also known as Choti Holi, the eve invokes the legend of Prahlad, whose devotion to Lord Vishnu angered his father- the demon king Hiranyakashipu. In the end, Prahlad survived while the king perished.

To mark the day, people worship Agni and make offerings to seek blessings for profuse harvest. An effigy of Holika is burnt which denotes the triumph of good over evil. In Udaipur, UT’s photojournalist captured the eve of Holika Dahan infused with cultural performances and folk music.