Holi, India
"Play" isn't a verb necessarily associated with a religious festival, but tell that to the millions of Hindus eager to "play Holi" when the holiday starts March 1. The Hindu spring festival celebrating color becomes a giant chalk/dye/water fight, as people take the streets to douse each other in bright jewel tones. The festival has even greater meaning this year: some companies are hosting large Holi celebrations to counteract the doom-and-gloom of the recession, while other Hindus aren't playing at all, opting for reserved observance in memory of those killed in the Mumbai terror attacks.

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