The sound of Dhol drums echoed across Prestwich last weekend as the first ever Manchester Holi festival brought a cacophony of colour to Heaton Park.
Traditionally, Holi is celebrated for 16 days stemming from a legendary Hindu tale about a demon king’s defeat.
Originating in India, the event has spread globally into a paint-throwing frenzy signifying the equality of all races and religions.
In an attempt to bring the festival of colours into Western tradition, German-based company Holi One have played host to a number of events in cities across Europe to join in with the celebration.
And it is Manchester that has become the latest city to host the event as MM was invited to share in with the festivities which unites creed and colour.
My expectations of wonderful spiced curry, traditional Bhangra music and Indian dancing had me geared up for a very cultural Saturday afternoon yet the festival did not quite reach my pious expectations as I was instead welcomed with crowds of drunken revellers, semi-naked teenagers and couples straddling one another in scenes of disturbing passionate embrace.
AGONY: Effects of the paint used
With the price of drinks at a staggering £4.30 each, and each attendee shelling out £10 for only five small bags of paint you could not help but feel slightly ripped off especially as the price just to get into the event was set at £30 each.
If drinking yourself into a stupor, lazing around in dirty grass or waiting more than 20 minutes just to use the toilet is not your idea of the perfect mini festival, than Manchester’s Holi-One may leave you slightly disappointed
Other than the music, which I must admit was a highlight, with a mix of
traditional Indian music and current pop tracks, there was little to keep me entertained for more than a few hours.
Admittedly it was fun throwing paint across the fields, something I would have revelled in as a child, but the novelty soon wore off as did it with hundreds of other red-eyed festival goers, trying desperately to cease the stinging of the powder.
But despite the money, the pain and the exceptional patience it took to ignore the pushing and pulling of very rude and very intoxicated guests openly using drugs, I cannot deny that it was quite fun – even with the remarkably high price tag.
The idea of a group of friends to let loose with bags of paint in a field with plenty of beer, music and sunshine was tarnished with the soggy fish and chips and aggressive drug users. When the price is a whopping £30, I could have done a better job in my back garden.
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