Nepalese and Indian communities celebrate Holi Festival

In a spectacular array of colour, music, dancing and food Toowoomba’s Nepalese and Indian communities are jointly hosting a Holi Festival on Saturday to celebrate the ancient Hindu festival of good triumphing over evil.

Having fun with Holi powder are (from left) Kritika Ghimire, Aarohi Mahida and Sanya George as the Toowoomba Indian and Nepalese communities combine to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The ancient and vibrant Holi Festival has come to Toowoomba and will fill up the University of Southern Queensland this Saturday in a feast of colours, sounds, and tastes.

Jointly hosted by the Indian and Nepalese community of Toowoomba, the festival will include traditional colour throwing (safe and eco-friendly powdered paint), traditional Indian and Nepalese food, DJ Gurkha and live Bollywood dance performances.

The organisers are expecting more than 500 people to descend on the Oval Soccer at UniSQ from 2.30pm for festivities and celebrations.

“With the rising cost of living, the team has made diligent efforts to ensure that this family-friendly event remains accessible to all, free of charge,” event co-ordinator Yaju Mahida said.

Expoding with colour are (from left) Aditi Chapagain, Advin Chapagain, Kritika Ghimire, Aarohi Mahida, Sanya George and Raynav Nair as the Toowoomba Indian and Nepalese communities combine to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The festival has a mythological story with deep roots in Hindu philosophy and can be traced back thousands of years, the festival being as old as the Hindu religion itself, Nepalese Association of Toowoomba President Diwas Chapagain said.

Holi, the vibrant Festival of Colors, symbolises the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of spring, and the blossoming of love, inviting everyone to strengthen community bonds, he said.

“It’s from an old story about a demon princess named Holika who tried to harm her nephew but ended up getting burnt herself.”

In Nepal and India, Holi is celebrated in many different ways, but it is a time when family an friends come together in a colourful explosion of water and powder, he said.

Everyone is invited to join in the celebrations with the Indian and Nepalese communities.

Where: Oval Soccer, UniSQ Campus

When: 2.30pm onwards

The event is free, but registration is advised.