Rang Barse: Colours over Corfe Castle celebrates Holi

The Indian Colour Festival of Holi was marked at Corfe Castle, with the castle providing a striking background to the bright colours, Indian food, Bollywood dancing and coloured powder of the celebration.

Colours filled the air around the castle as families enjoyed everything the celebration had to offer and joined in the traditional throwing of colours.

Rang Barse – Colours over Corfe Castle was organised by the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Indian Community Association in collaboration with the National Trust.

More than 3,000 people came to the castle for the event on Saturday, March 23, with free entry given for it and the castle was dressed up to reflect the occasion.

The festival is one of the most vibrant in India, with people taking to the streets across the country to spray people with coloured powders while making music and dancing.

It is a Hindu festival that is celebrated as the festival of colours, love and spring.

The chairman of BPCI, Ramesh Lal, said: “Holi is symbolic of spring bringing in new colours, joy, love and merriment.

“This is the first time such an event has taken place (anywhere in UK) at a unique and iconic venue.”

He added that many of the community had never been to the castle previously and many of the Dorset locals had ‘never witnessed such a colourful celebration’.

Mr Tom Clarke, from the National Trust, added: “Rang Barse, Colours over Corfe Castle… the celebration of Holi and blossom.

“Over 3000 people attended. They brought life, joy, love, energy and infinite colour. Everyone was welcome and everyone joined in.

“BPCI delivered outstandingly, and together we created a little bit of history in a castle riddled with it.”

Biodegradable coloured powder was provided to those in attendance.

BPC Indian Community Association had previously held a Diwali celebration at the Dolphin in Poole and a Bollywood on the Beach event in Studland, also in collaboration with the National Trust.