The stunning Hindu festival of Holi was marked at Bolton’s Indian Sports Club.
It is one of India’s most popular festivals to celebrate the arrival of spring.
This is the second year the event has been held at the Bolton Indian Sports Club on Hacken Lane in Darcy Lever, organised by the Bolton Hindu Forum.
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Bolton Hindu Forum Trustee and lead organiser Amit Taank said: “We want to include all communities to come together.
“It doesn’t matter what background you are, it’s all about throwing colours at each other and having fun.
“In terms of a religious perspective, we believe this is the arrival of spring so we’re celebrating the fact that we’ve got rid of winter and we’re welcoming spring and it’s one way of actually getting people to come together as well.
“We want to use this idea to not only bring just the Indian or Hindu communities, we want other cultures to come and join in the fun.”
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The sun also shone for the occasion, with temperatures reaching around 17C.
The celebrations included dance performances from local children, Indian food and delicacies and a DJ playing a mix of both traditional Holi songs and modern Bollywood tunes.
But the highlight was the smearing one another with bright coloured powders.
Amit added: “We want to make sure its affordable and we try and adhere to our cultural values too like not having any meat or alcohol so all the food on offer are Indian Hindu delicacies which are all vegetarian.”
Vanisa Varsani, fellow organiser said: “I’ve been to some events in Manchester in the past as no one did it in Bolton, so we’ve brought Manchester to here.
“Last year was a good one but it was really cold so today has worked out really well.
“Every year we pick up ideas that we can add, so this year we have a photo booth, and we sell T-shirts to encourage people to wear white.
“Every year it’s a really good event.”
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Traditionally, the festival marks a story from Hindu scriptures where a young child named Prahlad, upheld his staunch devotion to God.
This was in spite of opposition from his own father who wished to be worshipped as the most powerful being.
To set an example to others, Prahlad was to be executed but each attempt was unsuccessful with God protecting him at all costs.
Holding him, Holika sat on top of a pyre of burning wood and held Prahlad to make sure he couldn’t escape but once again, God protected his devotee.
This final attempt prompted God Himself to come to Earth to rescue His devotee from His evil father and thereafter the festival became known as Holi from the name Holika.
