A week of colours and a celebration of south Asia is to take place in Barrow.
Barrow Borough Council, The Forum and Barra Culture are celebrating the arts and culture of south Asia in a week-long celebration, The Festival of Colours, on June 26.
Festival of Colours is inspired by the Indian ‘Holi’ festival, and will be a mix of family workshops, performances and street food, and will culminate in the famous coloured-power-throwing Holi event in Barrow’s town centre.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Barrow Borough Council and the Forum on bringing this colourful event to the town centre,” said Daniel Tyler-McTighe, director, Barra Culture.
“It’s been brilliant to work with local people of south Asian heritage to plan it and we’re looking forward to contributions from local groups as well as visitors from further afield.
“We think it’ll be a brilliant way to kick off a summer of fun. There’ll be music, drums, dancing, arts and crafts, stalls of gorgeous things to buy, henna artists, delicious food, colourful powders flying about and we can’t wait.”
As well as the public events, street food market and stalls on June 26; dance workshops with local school children will be taking place throughout the week, culminating in performances at The Forum on the Saturday.
Shaun Blezard, Barrow Borough Council’s lead member for arts, culture and leisure said: “I am so excited to see the council working with residents and Barra Culture on a festival that explores south Asian heritage and an event that promotes the wonderful arts and culture of the area.
“I’m really looking forward to the festival; I love how events of this nature celebrate different cultures and show how we are more similar than different to other people around the globe.”
The festival will celebrate diversity in Barrow and create powerful connections between Barrovian children and those from the subcontinent.
“I’m so pleased to be working with the organisers to steer the planning and come up with ideas for the Festival of Colours,” said Barrow resident Neeloo Misra.
“My friends, their families and I are looking forward to contributing to the day with our cooking, clothing and colourful ideas for celebrating with everyone that comes along.”
All events are being planned to be compliant with government guidelines and are based on the third step of the roadmap.
