Celebrating Holi with food and colour
A vibrant festival of colour is due to return this weekend with special events taking place across East Berkshire.
Hindus everywhere will be donning white T-shirts ready to commence the colourful powder-throwing traditions associated with the spring festival, Holi.
Lively music, dancing and home-cooked food are to be expected at the famous ‘festival of colour, love and spring’ which is celebrated internationally.
The two-day festival to mark the beginning of spring takes place on Monday and celebrates Lord Krishna in a story of good triumphing over evil.
Typically, Holi is celebrated with singing, dancing and mithai (Indian sweets) but the highly anticipated tradition is where observers throw coloured powder and water at each other.
Several colourful ‘extravaganzas’ organised by Hindu groups across Maidenhead and Slough are set to take place this weekend. b On Saturday, IDUK and Alrich Events will host a Holi Dhamaka at Slough Cricket Club.
A live DJ will play Bollywood, bhangra and desi beats and the event will feature live singers, bhangra dancers and dhol players.
Free organic colours will be provided for the main Holi event outside and Indian street food stalls, a pan counter and a cash bar, serving a special ‘thandai’ will also be available.
The event will run from 12.30pm until 4.30pm with free parking available.
Tickets are £12 for adults and £5 for under-fives.
Visit: tinyurl.com/ mw7tctp8 b Adda in Slough is bringing its ‘Holi ritual back with a splash’ on Saturday with a Holi party at Upton Scout Hall.
The event will run from 1pm until 5.30pm and features a food menu of fried rice, daal, mutton kosha, paneer masala and dessert.
Tickets are £15 for adults, £7.50 for under-11s and free for under-fives. b On Sunday, Maidenhead Aumkaar Balagokulam is inviting residents to a Holi celebration in Braywick Park.
The group is a branch of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK group and the event will take place behind the sports centre.
Light interactive games and a vibrant Holi celebration are planned and the event will run from 11am until 2pm b Slough Mitra Mandal UK is hosting Gabbar ki Holi on Sunday for families and friends.
The ‘best colourful event of the year’ will include snacks, drinks, unlimited dry colours and live entertainment by DJ Shard.
Taking place at Kedermister Park at 90 Reddington Drive in Slough, the high-energy Holi event will kick off at 3pm and run until 6pm.
Tickets are £15 for adults and £8 for children under 12 while kids under 5 go free. b Finally, the Maidenhead events committee is hosting a Maidenhead Holi Festival at Oaken Grove Park on Sunday afternoon.
Maidenhead Holi 2024 will feature food stalls by Maidenhead-based food business, Flavers including pani puri, samosa chaat, vada pav, kachori chaat and pav bhaji.
The celebration of ‘colours, community and culture’ will feature a multilingual DJ and free colours and takes place from 12pm until 3pm.
Tickets are £7 for adults, £5 for under-14s and free for kids under-3.