FIRE BREATHING dancers, street entertainment, storytelling and a Bollywood DJ hit Barrow for a colorful festival this month.
Families from across Barrow and South Cumbria can enjoy a day of street entertainment, workshops and South Asian food at the Festival of Colors.
An exciting mix of storytelling, dance, yoga, street food and music. The day culminates in the famous Holi colored powder throwing event in downtown Barrow, where anyone can get very colorful – and chaotic.
Henna artists will be on site to create gorgeous temporary tattoos, and a Bollywood DJ will be on the decks in front of City Hall to play tunes while a fire-breathing dancer entertains nearby.
The Festival of Colors, organized by the Barrow Borough Council, The Forum and Barra Culture, features arts, crafts, food and more from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries. The event will promote diversity in the borough and create strong connections between people from across the region and those from the subcontinent.
Neeloo Misra, resident of Barrow and steering partner of the Festival of Colors, said, “Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the Spring Festival. It means the triumph of good over evil. It celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and color. It is a festive day to visit family, friends and enemies, play and laugh, throw colored powders at each other, share delicacies, drink and enjoy.
Cllr Shaun Blezard, Senior Member of the Barrow Borough Council for Arts, Culture and Recreation, said, “I’m really looking forward to the festival; I love how events of this kind celebrate different cultures and show that we are more like other people than we are different around the world ”.
At the outdoor market, passers-by can enjoy Indian street food for a quick bite or take home a curry for tea. There will be stalls selling Indian goods, hair braids, bhindis and jewelry.
The event will take place on June 26th in and around the forum and the market areas.