Celebrate Holi with Music, Food and Colour

It’s nearly time Birmingham, as Shaanti’s Holi Rave Festival returns back for the second year to celebrate Holi – the official Hindu celebration of friendship and love – is coming to our city on Saturday 26^th March 2015, bringing with it an explosion of colour, music, dance and delicious cuisine.

Due to popular demand, hundred’s are expected to participate in the event with festivities running from 2pm-10pm. Birmingham will be celebrating at Digbeth Gardens (next to Zen), in Digbeth, with a spectacular party of colours where friends and strangers chase each other with coloured powder.

(next to Zen), in Digbeth, with a spectacular party of colours where friends and strangers chase each other with coloured powder.

Produced by Shaanti in partnership with Taste and Liquor, the Holi Rave Festival is also known as the festival of colours Holi, is traditionally celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun (March) and festivities spread across the globe. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest

This year families are invited with their little ones to attend a daytime show from 2.00pm – 6.00pm, then from 6.00pm – 10.00pm the arches will be transformed into a festival vibe and the soundsytem will be turned up in full effect, taking the party to the next level. Throughout the day the festival will feature plenty of colour throwing, top DJ’s, live music, dhol drummers, Bollywood dancers, free face-painting, glitter-bombs, henna tattoo artists, a fancy dress competition and much, much more.

Sharnita K Athwal from Shaantisays: “Holi Rave Festival is exciting day out for all generations of the community. Now in its second year, the expectation remains large and Holi Rave Festival aims to conquer an even larger audience. It’s also important for us to give the next generation a glimpse of their heritage; to produce a platform which enables families to celebrate old traditions in a contemporary, cutting edge, dynamic and interactive fun way.”

Food is another part of the festival, so they have brought in street-food events producersTaste and Liquor to create a mini-Indian street-food bazaar, celebrating Mumbai street food favourites all served with a selection of Indian beers. The team have also taken the challenge to commission global (non-Indian) street food traders to create a new dish celebrating the colourful day.

Manga from Taste and Liquor explains more: “Holi is a universal festival which is celebrated by the worldwide community, Indian street food is heavily influenced by many unique taste and flavours that travel in through surrounding countries like Central Asia, Portuguese, Southeast Asia, British Isles and Europe. For Taste and Liquor it’s always about experimenting and challenging people to take risks with their menu’s, their flavours and we can’t wait to present new and exciting dishes with a global-twist to the festivals global audience.

Combining their love for arts, culture, music and cultural – traditions with their love for food, the Holi Rave Festival gives the region a great opportunity to celebrate a long-lived Indian tradition, bringing in the brightness to the diverse community of the West Midlands.

Shaanti presents Holi Rave Festival, Digbeth Gardens (Entrance Next to Zen), High St, Birmingham B12 0LD

Tickets: First Release £10 (SOLD OUT), Second Release £15, Third Release £20 and then, More at the door. Children Under 16, £10 – All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased here.

For more information: 07968260276, please visit www.holirave.com for full terms and conditions.

Holi Rave Festival is Produced by Shaanti in Partnership with Taste & Liquor www.tasteandliquor.com.