‘Explosion of colour’: See the full Gallery of Holi Festival 2025 at the Darwin Waterfront

‘Unity, love, affection, everything’: Hundreds of Territorians doused each other in colourful dyes at the Darwin Waterfront to celebrate a tradition that goes back centuries.

Davinder Singh, Gurmeet Kaur, with Rabat Sigh, 6, and Agamjot Kaur , 8, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

An explosion of colour took over the Darwin Waterfront this Saturday as hundreds of Territorians attended this year’s Holi Festival

Nepalese Association of the Northern Territory president and organiser Prativa Devkota Sharma said the annual festival was more than an explosion of colour, it was an expression of “unity, love, affection, everything.”

“It’s a colourful festival — but its not only to apply the colour it’s (about) exchanging the love, the affection and to celebrate together in harmony,” Ms Devkota Sharma said.

She said Holi celebrated the victory of the light over darkness, telling the story of the defeat of a demon in Nepalese and Indian mythology.

Nepalese Association of Northern Territory president Prativa Devkota Sharma at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Ms Devkota Sharma said it was a tradition that spanned centuries, with this year’s celebrations in Darwin modernising with the help of eco-friendly colours.

“It’s an explosion of the colours,” she said.

Jullada Jantrrangsi, Eranda Munasinghe, and Sandhya Sigdel at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Over the course of hours Territorians turned their white shirts and dresses into a kaleidoscope of colour, running around and throwing dyes at one another at the Darwin Waterfront.

While organisers promise the colours will fade away, the memories of this Saturday’s events will stay with many Territorians.

IN PICTURES: Darwin’s Holi Festival

Vijay Vemulapalli, back left, Manish Kumar, Nivedita Kanungo and Ayaan Kumar, 13, with Vivaan Vemulapalli, 10, Ishanvi Vemulapalli, 6, and Arihaan Kumar, 8, at the Darwin Waterfront on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Mendes Lay, Alf Leonardi, and Natalie McLaren at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Dipendra Rawarl with two-year-old Jinisha Rawarl at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Hriday Nayyar and Reyansh Suneja, 12, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Anjali Rawal getting some colour at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Debbi Toy-Goncalves and 11-year-old Lillianna Goncalves-Hewitt at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Akash B.C., Talosia Haulangi, Dippendra Giri and James Laverty at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territory kids enjoying the excitement and colour of the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Olivia Pitcher, 12, Paua Wharewera, 13, and Annika Elliott-Allan, 13, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Five-year-old Sidak Sidhu at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Five-year-old Sidak Sidhu getting coloured by Simarjit Sidhu, Veerpal Kaur, Amarjaat Singh and Nanak Sidhu at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Jessica Linklater, Soumya Shrestha and Manthan Saini at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Jullada Jantrrangsi, Eranda Munasinghe, and Sandhya Sigdel at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Five-year-old Sidak Sidhu getting coloured by Simarjit Sidhu, Veerpal Kaur, Amarjaat Singh and Nanak Sidhu at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territory kids enjoying the excitement and colour of the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Suruchi Kanden and Maria Teresarapahon at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Jessica Linklater, Soumya Shrestha and Manthan Saini at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territorians celebrated Holi Festival with colour and laughter at the Darwin Waterfront on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territorians celebrated Holi Festival with colour and laughter at the Darwin Waterfront on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territorians celebrated Holi Festival with colour and laughter at the Darwin Waterfront on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Piyanshu, seven-year-old Aamaira Narwal and Saniya at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Daisy Dorras-Walker, 5, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Saanvi Shah, 6, and Sanaaya Shah, 5, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Saanvi Shah, 6, and Sanaaya Shah, 5, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Samuel Dragon, 3, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Olivia Pitcher, 12, Paua Wharewera, 13, and Annika Elliott-Allan, 13, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territory kids enjoying the excitement and colour of the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Samuel Dragon, 3, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Angel Giri, Jayan Malla, Prince Giri and five-year-old Zavien Malla at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Davinder Singh, Gurmeet Kaur, with Rabat Sigh, 6, and Agamjot Kaur, 8, at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Sandhya Sigdel at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Aarvi Bharl, 6, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Sandhya Sigdel applies colour to Yuvraj Pokhrel at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Demi Justice and Grayson Smith, 1, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Olivia Pitcher, 12, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Five-year-old Zavien Malla adds some colour to Jayan Malla at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Five-year-old Sidak Sidhu getting coloured by Simarjit Sidhu, Veerpal Kaur, Amarjaat Singh and Nanak Sidhu at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Sandhya Sigdel applies colour to Aastha Khatri at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Lilliana Goncalves-Hewitt, 11, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Sadikshya Pandey at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Suruchi Kanden and Maria Teresarapahon at the Darwin Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Tony Delyfer, Kazumi Delfer and Toby Delyfer, 6, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Noah Labajo, 10, getting some colour at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Tristan Un, 8, getting some colour at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Tristan Un, 8, with Noah Labajo, 10, at the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territory kids enjoying the excitement and colour of the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill

Territory kids enjoying the excitement and colour of the Holi Festival celebrations on Saturday March 15. Picture: Zizi Averill