In pictures: Cambourne’s 10th annual Holi Festival is a riot of colour

There was no mistaking the occasion as Cambourne hosted its 10th annual Holi Festival of Colours.

Organised by CamCareUK, a charity focused on fostering community cohesion, the free event has become Cambridgeshire’s largest open-air Holi celebration.

It was held on Saturday (15 March) at the Great Cambourne Cricket Pavilion and welcomed residents and visitors alike to a festival packed with colour, music, food and entertainment.

First introduced to Cambourne in 2016, the organisers consult the weather forecast in the hope of picking a day when attendees can enjoy sunny, dry weather while playing with powder paint colours – and thankfully, they got it spot-on this year.

Holi is a Hindu festival signifying a time of rebirth and rejuvenation, and marks the arrival of spring.

In Cambourne, the festival began with the Holika Dahan, followed by the much-anticipated colour fight.

Free colours were provided to all attendees, thanks to the sponsorship of Cambridge’s Urban Chai, allowing CamCareUK to continue the tradition of making the festival accessible to everyone.

There was a surprise in store for visitors when the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, David Way, who attended with his wife, addressed the crowd, saying: “The role of the High Sheriff is to represent the King in this county, in Cambridgeshire.

“Today, I would like to give the High Sheriff Award to a very special person.”

He presented the High Sheriff Award Certificate to Shrobona Bhattacharya, founder and trustee of CamCareUK, in recognition of her tireless work for the community in Cambridgeshire and beyond.

CamCareUK also recognised its 39 dedicated volunteers who worked for the community from over the last year. The festival also featured music, DJ performances, and food stalls.

Meanwhile, a Holi celebration was also held in Waterbeach.