PLANS to host a festival of colour in Barnard Castle to mark the start of spring have been given the backing of Barnard Castle Town Council’s partnership committee.
Mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee, who was born in India, hopes to organise a community event in March based on the Holi festival, a traditional Hindu gala celebrating spring, love and new life.
She says it will to give people something to look forward to following the Covid pandemic.
The Holi festival is known as a colourful affair with dancing, singing and the throwing of powdered paint and coloured water.
She said: “With all that we have gone through, this is about new beginnings.
“It is a religious festival but it doesn’t have to be. It is a festival of spring.”
Although plans are in their infancy, Cllr Chatterjee said the festival could be run during a weekend in March with events at venues throughout the town involving youth organisations, shops and other business.
Cllr Chatterjee added: “In India it is about colour. Attendees wear white and just get splattered in colour. It is a happy festival and hopefully by the end of it, it would help to raise spirits.
“We could start at The Hub and come through the town, changing colour, having something at The Witham and perhaps a colour run for school children on the Demesnes.
