Holi festival marks the beginning of the spring season and signifies good triumphing over evil. The festival which originates from India has become very popular in recent years in the UK. This year Holi – the Festival of Colours – will fall on Wednesday, March 8 but celebrations commenced in advance! The large public gathering is a joyous event known for people throwing vibrant coloured powder at one another.
The event in Dartford is the largest of its kind in Kent, with over 1000 people in attendance. Endorsed by Dartford Borough Council, & Cohesion+ working alongside local community members, the event brought happy smiles & laughter with gracious presence of following dignitaries:
- Mr. Gareth Johnson, Member of Parliament UK
- Mahesh Chawla – Head of Chancery and Protocol, High Commission of India London
- Cllr. Paul Cutler, Mayor – Dartford Borough Council
- Cllr. Jeremy Kite MBE – Leader Dartford Borough Council
- Cllr. Chris Shippam – Deputy Leader Dartford Borough Council
- Lieutenant Gurvinder Sandher MBE
- Cllr. Avtar Sandhu MBE
- Cllr. Richard Wells – Dartford Borough Council
- Cllr. Thomas Oliver
While Cllr Avtar was anchoring his creative smiley script on the stage with colleagues and the crowds, all the dignitaries endorsed the festival celebrations, shared best wishes (promising a bigger one in 2024!) & joined the fun of rainbow colors sprinkling on each other. The presence of distinguished guests added an extra layer of significance to the event, making it a truly memorable experience for all those who attended.
The free community event (05 Mar 2023) hosted by volunteers of the local community & Dartford borough council team proved to be a big hit in Central Park. People were busy enjoying the event, taking videos, dancing to the DJ music, snacks, capturing photos & sharing updates on social media. This is mainly to draw in the public and the diverse communities to bring them all together, reunite & share positive energy, as notified by organizing volunteer – Krishna Pavan Challa.
