Vibrant powdered dyes fly through the air from all directions, caught in the crossfire you look down at your clothes smiling as you see a wonderful tapestry of colour!

Let go, let loose, and throw colours up to the ether in tomorrow's Holi Colour Splash 2023 from 12 noon-3pm at Jordan Park near Memorial Park, Eleventh Ave, Tauranga.

Event organiser Bela devi dasi Reid says the colour-filled festival brings young and old, friends and strangers, all together to enjoy in the Holi festival colour chase.

'This festival is regardless of creed, of faith, of skin colour, of all these things. It's bringing us together on that day and because it's so intimate to throw colours at strangers, it burns down bridges,” says Bela.

Rangoli

Earlier this week she visited local schools, including Bellevue School – teaching students about Holi while creating Rangoli patterns.

Bela compares Rangoli to mandala designs, where students drew their designs in chalk before placing down their powdered holi colours. 'It symbolises learning to be detached because you're putting so much energy, meditation, and good thoughts into making this pattern but then the wind or the rain, nature can take it away at any time.”

Coloured in

Tomorrow's festival, on March 4, will be all about the fun and action though! Bela says in India Holi is celebrated by everyone, where whole towns and villages enjoy the Holi colour chase.

'You just walk onto the street, onto your doorstep and you might get coloured in. You can't avoid it – and if there are any sort of grudges within your heart, you've got to let it go.”

Holi is a time to throw away old fears, upset, anger and any negative emotion, says Bela. Then, she adds, it's about 'inviting the opposite into our life – you know, harmony, peace, respect for oneself and each other”.

There will be vegetarian food stalls at the festival, Holi coco drinks, henna art, live Bollywood, Kuchipudi and Bhangra dance performances, plus traditional and fusion Holi music to enjoy and dance to. 'Mum and dads have fun, the kids have fun, you make new friends – and, it's regardless of any inhibitions we may carry within ourselves just for those two or three hours at least.”

The festival is 12 noon-3pm Saturday, March 4, at Jordan Park near Memorial Park, Eleventh Ave, Tauranga. Entry is free – Holi colour packages will be on sale at $2 for one or $5 for three.