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Holi: The Hindu festival of colour that welcomes everyone

BBC Shaz and Mahum - two female friends standing next to each other. Shaz on the left is smilng and has pink powdered colour on her face, with silver hoop earrings, wearing a pink vest top with a black bag strap hanging. Mahum on the right is wearing sunglasses with pink rims, white hoop earrings and a pink top, with a pink bow in her hair. The background is of a brick wall.BBC
Shaz (left) feels Holi is "a special time" of the year because it lets people from all backgrounds celebrate

Clouds of coloured powder and crowds of smiling people - the Hindu festival of Holi is back.

Observed by millions around the world. the religious event celebrates love, new beginnings and the victory of good over evil.

Known as the festival of colours, it's traditionally a time to invite people who aren't Hindus to celebrate.

And when BBC Asian Network visited the Holi event in Leeds, plenty were getting involved.

The Yorkshire event is described as the biggest of its kind in the UK, featuring a host of performers throughout the day.

And singer Jaz Dhami, who's fresh from his set at South by Southwest in Texas, says he's "excited" to perform a number of Punjabi hits.

It's his first time on-stage at a Holi event in the UK, and he says the day is "about community and celebrating together".

"It's great to see so many people from different backgrounds," he says. "And it's great to come back to my country and perform for people here."

Jaz, a man, wearing sunglasses and smiling at the camera. The background is plain white. He is wearing a black shirt with flowery collar.
It was a different kind of festival to South by Southwest for Jaz

Shaz Khan is from the Sheffield School of Bollywood, and performed a dance on-stage.

The 28-year-old is Muslim, but has celebrated Holi before at smaller events, and echoes Jaz's message about community and togetherness.

"I think integration, especially in this day and age and what's going on in the world is so important because it brings people together.

"And at the same time, it's a good way to get rid of animosity… just enjoy a festival of colour together.

"Everyone loves music, dancing. It's just the perfect way to connect."

Group of four friends - two women at the front and two men at the back, celebrating the festival of Holi. There is yellow coloured powder on their faces and white shirts, and in their hair. They are shouting with their arms raised.
Akshey and Adityi have come from India and see Holi celebrations as a way of making new friends

Akshey and Adityi are friends who have come to the UK from India without their families, and feel these type of events are actually "a chance to make new friends".

"We've been missing family but now we're quite elated," Adityi says. "It's a chance for togetherness."

Akshey adds: "We haven't celebrated much until this event.

"You get to learn a lot about culture, because we have a lot of them in India," she says.

Shaz believes performances and parties make the festival more accessible, even if the religious aspect isn't front-and-centre.

"Everyone practises and believes in a different way. It's an individual thing.

"And if we can somehow collectively celebrate it together, then that's great," she says.

Almir, a man, wearing a white tshirt which has red and yellow powdered colour on it. He is smiling, with his beard coloured yellow and someone behind him throwing red powdered colour on him as they celebrate.
Almir enjoys the vibrancy and colour of Holi

For Almir Datoo, Holi lets him connect with things that feel familiar.

He is Indian and a Muslim, and sees the festival as "a vibrant part" of his culture.

"I don't think you have to distinguish between religion and celebrations," he says.

"A lot of religious celebrations happen with parties, for example, with Muslims and Eid.

"Opportunities like this, give me a good chance to see people who celebrate things in a way that I probably am more familiar with."

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Listen to Ankur Desai's show on BBC Asian Network live from 15:00-18:00 Monday to Thursday - or listen back here.