This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:
Thousands celebrate season with festival of colour
Thousands of worshippers have celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi by throwing coconuts into a huge bonfire and painting each other's faces.
People from across the city travelled to Spinney Hill Park, in Leicester, for the event last night.
The spring festival, also known as festival of colours, marks the end of winter.
Organiser Jatin Morjaria, 53, from Stoneygate, said: "We have been planning for two months now, so it is nice to see it all come together.
"It represents happiness and joy, and the getting rid of bad things such as greed or lust, putting them in the fire, a bit like a new year's resolution."
The bonfire – and the coconuts thrown in – represent ridding the body and mind of all the sins of the year.
Thousands of people threw coloured powder at each other, while younger worshippers squirted liquid paint, symbolising the colours of spring.
Among guests of honour were MP for Leicester South Jon Ashworth, and city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby. Festivities can last up to 16 days.
No comments:
Post a Comment