How vibrant Holi celebrations are bringing communities together

In a riot of colour and joyous revelry, South Asian communities in New Zealand have celebrated the vibrant festival of Holi, marking the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the triumph of good over evil.

Although some festivities were held more than a month ago, the Festival of Colours culminated in two key celebrations on Sunday and Monday.

Holika Dahan was marked on 24 March, where bonfires were lit to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

Rangwali Holi, or Dhulandi, was then celebrated on 25 March, where participants threw coloured water or powder at each other as they sang, danced and enjoyed festive foods.

Many legends are associated with the festival.

One recounts the story of Prahlad and Holika, where the former's unwavering devotion to Lord Vishnu saved him from the flames of a pyre as his malevolent aunt, who had lured him onto the flames, met her demise.

This tale symbolises the victory of good over evil and the importance of faith.

Another popular legend revolves around the courtship of Lord Krishna and Radha.

Krishna, envious of Radha's fair complexion, playfully applied colours to her face - beginning the tradition of smearing coloured powder onto others during Holi and infusing the festival with elements of romance and joy.

Northern lights

Holi festivities in Auckland kicked off with Krishna Holi - Festival of Colours in the town of Kumeu on 11 February. Around 15,000 people attended the event.

Almost a month later, more than 2400 people came together at Tauranga's Memorial Park on 2 March to celebrate the festival.

"There were dance performances and music throughout the event," said Bela Dasi Reid, organiser of Holi Colour Splash. "We are very pleased with the outcome."

Reid said the wider Tauranga community was given an opportunity to learn about the cultural and religious significance of Holi during the event.

"It's a day where we celebrate brother and sisterhood," she said. "(We) try to have a new outlook on life with enthusiasm and leave negative emotions."

In Hamilton, the Waikato Indian Association organised a Holi celebration on 24 March.

"We had a huge gathering of people from all walks of life at our Waikato Indian Association Hall," said Tarun Kumar, president of the association.

Kumar said about 300 people attended the event, including lawmakers Ryan Hamilton and Minister of Māori Affairs Tama Potaka.

"We had different people from other communities who joined in, including Kiwis," he said.

A day earlier, the Indian community in New Plymouth celebrated Holi at Puke Ariki in the city center on 23 March.

"There were more than 250 participants, so a very good turnout for our community," organiser Ashwini Kumar said.

He said the number of participants in the festival had grown over the years, reflecting wider interest from the local community.

In the capital, the Wellington Indian Association led the celebrations.

"We've been running Holi celebrations in Wellington for the past 15 years," said Manisha Morar, president of the association. "We (first) started with 50 people, but we had around 700 people on Monday, so it has grown exponentially."

She said a lot of young families had started taking an interest in the festival, leading to its growing popularity in the capital.

Morar agreed that people from other communities were interested in Holi, especially young Kiwi families with children.

Southern style

In the South Island, Holi celebrations were organised in Selwyn, Ashburton, Dunedin, Invercargill and the Garden City.

Christchurch Holi - Festival of Colours was hosted by Revel Events at Hagley Park on 2 March. The event featured cultural performances, traditional food and stories about Holi.

A week later, the Indian New Zealand Association of Christchurch hosted its first-ever Holi celebration in Rolleston's Helpet Park on 10 March.

"Around 2500 people participated in the event, with more than 20 food vendors and dance performances," said Gurvinder Singh, secretary of the association.

Meanwhile, the Ashburton Indian Multicultural Charitable Trust hosted Ashburton Holi at Hotel Ashburton on 2 March.

Further south, the Dunedin Multicultural Council organized the city's Holi festivities at North East Valley Normal School on 23 March, featuring dance performances, food, competitions and colours.

The Indian Students' Association at Otago University also hosted a Holi event at the university's Union Lawn on the same day.

The Indian community in Southland celebrated Holi at Elizabeth Park in Invercargill on 23 March.

The event saw more than 300 people throughout the day and was kicked off by a local DJ.

Stalls featuring Indian food were available, as well as a stall for coloured powder and water.

The organiser said visitors included households from Nepal, New Zealand and different parts of the subcontinent.