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City's first large-scale Holi celebrations held

BBC Seema Chugh, Anjali Mavi and Reun Dublish are all wearing white T-shirts which have been covered in coloured powder. They are all stood in line, looking at the camera and smiling. They are all also covered in various coloured powders.BBC
HIC organisers (left to right) Seema Chugh, Anjali Mavi and Reun Dublish brought the event to Southampton

Hundreds of people were drenched by clouds of coloured powder at Southampton's first large-scale celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi.

Observed by millions around the world, the event celebrates love, new beginnings and the victory of good over evil and it traditionally marks the end of the Indian winter.

This year's event will fall on Friday but the Hampshire Indian Community (HIC) group organised its special Holi Hungama for all in Guildhall Square on Sunday.

Anjali Mavi, from HIC, said that after a similar celebration was held at Corfe Castle in Dorset last year, it was the right time to bring it to Southampton.

"We've brought colours, the sun is out and this much colour is giving us such a positive vibe," she said.

Known as the festival of colours, Holi is traditionally a time to invite people who are not Hindus to celebrate.

Leicester is thought to have the largest Holi celebration outside India and there are other major events in Australia and New York.

Avinas is wearing a black cap which says Fly Emirates on it. He is wearing a yellow T-shirt and a coat, both of which have been covered in yellow and pink powder. He has a white beard and part of his face has been covered in pink and yellow powder.
Avinas Patel said Sunday's celebration was about "bringing colour {and the] vibrancy of the Hindu religion to Southampton"

"We have been working on this event for months and months and months," Seema Chugh, from HIC, said.

"I was born and brought up in India and Holi's been part of our growing up.

"It's the event when everybody gets together - you eat, you enjoy, you drink, you have fun, you play with colours.

"We have been doing that for many years but on a smaller scale.

"This time we wanted to bring that to the wider community because I believe in unity, in oneness.

"We want to share with the wider community."

Avinas Patel, chairman of trustees of the city's Vedic Society Hindu Temple, said he was glad the festival was being celebrated by so many.

He said it was "bringing colour [and the] vibrancy of the Hindu religion to Southampton".

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