Colourful Indian spring festival celebrated in Berlin
This Sunday, the German capital exploded in colour as the Indian festival of Holi moved beyond the borders of Asia and onto European soil for the first time.
The festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, is an outdoor party with the addition of multi-coloured bright powders, or “gulal”, which festival-goers rub on each others’ bodies, creating an interactive visual wonderland.
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Berliners throwing colour on each other
(© dpa)
Religiously, the festival marks a number of events in Hindu mythology, but its most significant purpose is to celebrate the arrival of Spring, with the colours representative of the flowers that the season offers.
Maxim Derenko, one of the three organisers of the festival, says they are trying to emulate this idea in bringing the party to Berlin. “The ideas or core elements of the festival are tolerance, equality and freedom,” says Derenko. “These are also the core components of the Berlin lifestyle. We think that those ideas match with the Berlin attitude to life.”
Derenko and his partners have been organizing parties in Berlin for the last three years, and have long been planning on bringing this festival to Berlin. “We are hoping to bring a peaceful and colourful experience to the people,” he said before the party. “And create a lasting and sustainable feeling of freedom and togetherness. And combine this of course with a high quality level of music.”
The music was provided by a number of Berlin DJ’s as well as Bhangra performers and Indian electronic acts.
