Holi is a festival of colours, joy, and harmony celebrated by people worldwide. The festival is celebrated in many parts of the world, and New Zealand is no exception. On March 4, 2023, Christchurch’s Hagley Park North was transformed into a vibrant and colourful place as people from all ethnicities of Christchurch gathered to celebrate the Holi festival.
The event was from 11 am to 4 pm and was packed with activities that kept everyone engaged. There was a stage where many performances were held, and a live DJ played catchy music with the crowd dancing and singing along. The energy in the air was electric, and everyone was having a great time.
The main attraction of the event was, of course, playing with colours. Stalls selling eco-friendly colours were set up and were crowded with people buying them. Kids, in particular, were having a great time running around with coloured faces. The festival was all about having fun and enjoying the company of friends and family.
The event also had stalls selling street food, and the aroma of flavours filled the air.
The event began with Sally Pitama of Ngai Tahu leading a Karakia, and notable dignitaries in attendance included Hon Dr Duncan Webb, MP for Christchurch Central, Sarah Pallett, MP for Ilam, Dr Sunita Gautam, Board Member representing the Central Ward, and Surinder Tandon, the President of Christchurch Multicultural Council.
The event was organised by Maia Foods and Sandeep Khanna Mortgages in association with the Christchurch City Council. The weather was warm and sunny, and people came out in large numbers to celebrate the festival.
The organiser, Hitesh Sharma, expressed his gratitude to all the supporters, sponsors, and the community for making the event a success. He said, “It is heartening to see so many people come out and support this event. After three years, the community has finally got a chance to celebrate this fun festival again.”
Karan, one of the attendees, said, “We were looking forward to celebrating Holi, especially the kids who don’t get a chance like this to get together with friends and have fun like this.” The festival provided an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the joy of life.
Presented by Sandeep Khanna Mortgages and supported by Harman Deep, Arise Financial Services, Homes by Parklane, the event was very well organised and a great success.