GALLERY: Riot of colour as Holi celebrated in Jersey

Tuesday 22 March 2022

An array of vibrant colours filled St. Saviour over the weekend as Jersey's Indian community came together to celebrate the start of spring.

Holi is a traditional celebration where Hindu people across the world come together to rejoice at the end of the gloomy winter and welcome the vivid spring.

Usually celebrated at the end of March on a full moon day, the 'Festival of Colours' represents love and new beginnings.

Whilst some families take part in religious customs, others mark Holi by dancing, singing and throwing powder paint and coloured water into the air and on those around them.

Traditionally, on the eve of the festival, large bonfires are lit to signify the burning of evil spirits and, during the main Holi celebration, streets are filled with vibrant colours.

Picture: Members of the community came together to celebrate the Festival of Colours in St. Saviour over the weekend. 

Sunil Ravtuwar, who organises events for the island's Indian community, told Express that normally people celebrate in their homes.

However, this year marked the first time the community, in Jersey, came together to revel in neon colours at St. Saviour's Parish Hall.

Holi allows people to "open up and enjoy each other's company, take time to dance and party, and throw their cultural norms to the side", Mr Ravtuwar explained. 

Describing the turnout at Saturday afternoon's event as "fantastic", he went on to share hopes that the festivities will be even bigger and better next year. 

Picture: Adults and children smear Gulal (coloured powder) on each other.

Each coloured powder - also known as Gulal - used in the Holi festival is "rich with symbolism and has multiple meanings".

Red is used to represent love and passion. It carries greater significance as women tend to wear red on their wedding day. Yellow, meanwhile, signifies sunshine, happiness and healing powers.

Blue signifies calmness and serenity, while green represents new beginnings, happiness and harvest.

One of the most attractive and vibrant colours, pink is often a favoured powder at Holi, particularly among girls and women. It reflects care and compassion.

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