Indian community to celebrate Holi festival

Jake WallaceGuernsey
News imageIndian Community in Guernsey A group of six people - four men and two women - and a dog. They are looking at the camera and smiling. They are all covered in brightly coloured powders of various colours. Indian Community in Guernsey
The festival in marked by the throwing of coloured powders

Guernsey's Indian community is set to celebrate the Holi Festival of Colours later.

The vibrant annual Hindu festival marks the start of spring, the end of winter, and the victory of good over evil.

The event, organised by the Indian Community in Guernsey, will take place at Le Pommier Hotel from 12:00 BST and includes the traditional throwing of coloured powders.

Organiser Shweta Bhagra said the celebrations were a "wonderful way to bring people together and celebrate our culture within Guernsey".

The group has been organising events like Holi and Diwali on the island for the past four years.

Bhagra said Holi had both cultural and religious aspects and was a "great equaliser".

She added everyone was welcome and the colours brought together "people from all backgrounds in a shared spirit of celebration".

News imageIndian Community in Guernsey Three people, two men and one woman, standing in white clothing next to a brightly coloured sign which says 'Happy Holi, Indian Community in Guernsey celebrates, Holi Ustav, festival of colours, love and joy. Indian Community in Guernsey
The community estimates there are more than 200 Indian people in Guernsey

"Holi is a joyful celebration that brings people together across the community, and it is a great way to share Indian culture, colour, and tradition with the wider public, " Bhagra said.

"We celebrate Holi as a reminder of the importance of letting our hair down, having fun, and enjoying life together."

She said there were about 200 to 225 people of Indian heritage living in Guernsey and events like Holi helped "strengthen community ties while giving everyone the chance to take part in something vibrant and inclusive".

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