AN Oxford park erupted in a riot of colour yesterday as hundreds of people celebrated a Hindu festival.
Revellers threw powdered paint at each other in Oxford University’s Merton College sports grounds to mark the arrival of spring and “brighter colours in wildlife.”
Holi also marks the traditional Hindu story of a child escaping from a fire when a demon was attempting to kill him.
Organisers are hoping the free event, near Marston Road, raised more than £1,000 for the Manav Sadhna charity, which helps poor and needy children in India.
Chand Mehta, president of the Oxford University Hindu Society, said: “I think we had about 900 people turn up, which was fantastic. People from across the community came along and enjoyed themselves, which is what we were aiming for. We are still working out how much money we raised, but this event will certainly happen again next year.”
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