Dozens danced amid the rainfall of coloured powder Saturday afternoon.
For this first time in Thunder Bay, The Festival of India celebrated a thousand-year-old Indian tradition called the Festival of Colours.
In India the festival represents the arrival of spring and the passing of winter, but now the festival is a time to embrace the spirit of reconciliation, forgiveness and gratitude by casting away bad feelings with powdered colours.
“The colours represent the colours of life,” said organizer Prashant Jani. “The Colour Festival also signifies that we forget our differences and celebrate life.”
Dozens of festival-goers gathered to the Marina’s main stage with packets of environmentally-friendly coloured powder, and all at once the powder went flying into the air. A dance ensued.
Throughout the evening the grounds will be filled with classic cultural dances, live music, and lots of authentic east India cuisine.
Children as well have an array of fun to choose from with face painting booths, henna tattooing, and inflatable castle rides.
“The purpose of the festival is entertainment with enlightenment,” Jani said. “It’s an opportunity for people to learn about the different country.”
Jani added that at this day and age we see a lot of bad things happening in the world, so this is the time to bring people together and celebrate each other.
The festival begins Sunday at 3 p.m. and will feature another thousand-year-old tradition along with a free feast and nearly 100 Indian exhibits to learn from.