People from across South Cumbria can enjoy a day of festivities in Barrow later this month.
The Festival of Colours, on June 26, will be held in the towns Forum and market areas and include street entertainment, workshops and food from South Asia.
The day will culminate in the famous coloured-powder-throwing Holi event in Barrow town centre.
Henna artists will be on hand to create temporary tattoos and a Bollywood DJ will be on the decks outside the town hall to pump out tunes while a fire-breathing dancer entertains nearby.
The Festival of Colours will feature arts, crafts, food and more from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries and overall, it aims to champion diversity in the
borough and create powerful connections between people across the area and those from the subcontinent, as well as those living locally with Indian heritage.
Neeloo Misra, Barrow resident and steering partner for Festival of Colours, said: “Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as Festival of Spring.
“It signifies the triumph of good over evil. It celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and colour.
“It is a festive day to visit family, friends and foes to play and laugh and throw coloured powders on each other, share delicacies, drink and enjoy.
“I am looking forward to meeting more people of Barrow and share my Holi experience with them.
The festival’s headline sponsor is BAE Systems.
Barrow and the subcontinent have been linked for decades, with The Barrow and Calcutta Jute Company and its James Ramsden-designed-mill located in Barrow-in-Furness.
At the mill the all-female workforce used the Indian-grown material to produce jute fabrics, which were used for a wide range of items including telegraph cables, ropes
and artificial hair and curtains during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The link is preserved today in the local street names – Jute Road and Calcutta Street.
In the outdoor market space, passers-by can grab Indian street food for a quick bite, or take home a curry for tea. There will be stalls selling Indian goods, hair-braiding, bhindis
and jewellery.
Children’s imaginations will be fired by arts activities including marbling, fabric bird-making, and wooden block printing, plus making rangoli and mandala designs.
Daniel Tyler-McTighe, director of Barra Culture, said: “As well as the main event on the Saturday, local children from six local schools are taking part in dance and visual arts workshops with South Asian artists in the week, culminating in taking part in and watching performances in the Forum.
“We think the whole festival will be a brilliant way to kick off a summer of fun – we can’t wait!”
Barra Culture, who are working with The Forum and Barrow Borough Council to put on the events, are committed to working with local people as well as inviting those from further
afield to take part. Barrow residents are presenting a fashion show, cooking and sari-tying demos and sitar performances and local market stallholders will be supplying food.
Free Spirit Dance Academy will also be performing throughout the day.
The Lancaster and Morecambe Hindu Society, CanDo FM, Furness Multicultural Community forum, DropZone, Barrow Library, Barrow Police are supporting the event and
alongside the locals, award-winning Asian Arts and Heritage companies SAMPAD and Preston Mela will be delivering performances and workshops.
All events are being planned to be compliant with government guidelines and are based on the third step of the Roadmap and the event will have COVID marshals, PPE including
masks, visors, gloves and hand sanitiser stations as well as signage guidance on how to stay safe while enjoying the event.
