How To Celebrate Holi Festival
The countdown to Holi Festival is getting closer and closer and we could not be more excited! We’ve been busy gearing up for Holi over at Ministry of Colours, making sure festivals and parties are stocked up with traditional colour powder and accessories for their events.
Holi is our favourite time of year as it's a time for joy, coming together and celebrating with colourful cheer. As we prepare for this vibrant celebration, it's important to remember some of the key tips for making the most of this festive occasion and celebrating the festival in the best way possible.
Gather with friends and family
First (and most importantly) gather your friends and family to join in the festivities, it’s no fun celebrating on your own! Holi Festival is all about having fun and promoting unity and is therefore best enjoyed surrounded by the company of loved ones. During this time people are encouraged to put their differences aside and the celebration is meant to bring communities together and often ends with friends and family visiting each other's homes in the evening.
Make a bonfire
On the eve of Holi, it's tradition to make a bonfire and place a small statue of Holika in the firewood. This is done due to the legend of the demon king Hiranyakashipu and symbolises the triumph of good over evil. This evening is also a time for friends and family to gather together and dance and celebrate around the bonfire.
Use colour powder
Holi is also known as the Festival of Colours as it’s tradition for people to shower each other with bright colour powder, also known as gulal, or mix the powder with water to paint on each other's faces. A rainbow of colours is typically used and each colour represents a different emotion or meaning:
Red - Colour of Love and Passion
Yellow - Colour of Happiness and Peace
Blue - Colour of Calm and Otherworldliness
Green - Colour of Nature and New Beginnings
Pink - Colour of Youth, Good Health and Playfulness
Orange - Colour of Courage and Sacrifice
Purple - Colour of Supreme Peace and Wisdom
The colours are non-toxic and shouldn't stain when used correctly, however it's best to wear clothing that you won't mind getting ruined and covered in colours. The best way to partake in this event however is by dressing in a white t-shirt or white clothing to show off all the colours you’ve attracted throughout the day. Don’t forget your colour accessories too!
Enjoy traditional Holi food and drink
Don’t forget to indulge in delicious festival treats! There are lots of traditional Indian meals, sweets and drinks that can be enjoyed during Holi. One staple of the festival is Thandai, a refreshing creamy milk drink that is prepared with a mixture of spices, nuts and sugar. Or perhaps try a traditional sweet like gujiya, a sweet fried dumpling filled with milk solids and nuts.
We particularly like the sound of dahi vada, a savoury snack made from lentils that are dunked in creamy yoghurt and topped with spices and chutney. Sounds delicious!
Ultimately, Holi is a celebration of new beginnings and a chance to have fun with friends and family. As March 25th draws closer, it’s time to start preparing for the festival by stocking up on colour powder (make sure you have enough of every colour!) and accessories to make your day as bright and fun-filled as possible.
We’ll be down at Leeds Holi Festival on both 23rd and 24th March selling our traditional Holi powder, so make sure you grab a ticket, come down to see us and join in the celebrations! The 23rd is for all those who want to really get into the party spirit, whilst the 24th is a family-friendly Holi celebration which is sure to keep the kids entertained all day!
Or if you’re hosting your own Holi event or party, use our handy colour powder calculator to work out how much you’ll need based on the number of people attending. You can also always drop us an email at hello@ministryofcolours.com or call us on 0330 321 3996 and we’d be happy to help you get prepared for all your Holi Festival needs!
The History of Holi
Holi is one of the biggest and most vibrant festivals celebrated in India and across the world. Every spring, the Hindu festival brings people across the world together to celebrate the arrival of the new season.
But where did this festival originate, we hear you ask, and how did it become such an important part of Indian culture? Let’s delve into the history of Holi together and explore the origins and traditions of this beloved festival and how it has developed over time to become popular with millions around the world.
What are the origins of Holi?
Holi is one of the most ancient festivals in India and was originally known as “Holika”. It is also said that Holi was originally a ceremony for married women to spread goodwill and prosperity to their new family; however since then, it has evolved to mean much more.
One of the main focuses of the Holi Festival now is the celebration of the victory of good over evil. The most popular story that is rooted in this theme is the story of Hiranyakashipu, the demon king. Hiranyakashipu wanted everyone in the kingdom to worship only him; however his son, Prahlad, was devoted to worshipping the Hindu god Vishnu.
This led to Hiranyakashipu commanding his sister Holika, who was immune to fire, to carry Prahlad into a blazing fire. Holika however burned to ashes and Prahlad emerged from the flames unscathed, saved by Vishnu for his devotion to the god. Hiranyakashipu too was eventually killed by Vishnu, displaying the triumph of good over evil.
The legend of Krishna and Radha is also linked to the origins of Holi Festival. Krishna fell in love with the goddess Radha, but feared that she wouldn’t love him due to his blue skin. Radha however allowed Krishna to dye her skin with colour and they became a true couple.
How do people celebrate Holi?
Known as a fun and vibrant festival, Holi is celebrated with plenty of singing, dancing, food and parties. In honour of the legend of Krishna and Radha, people celebrate Holi by applying colour to each other’s skin. For this, natural and non-toxic colour powder is used. Colour powder is also used throughout the festival to be thrown in the air to create bright clouds of colour and cover all of the participants.
On the eve of Holi each year, huge bonfires are lit for people to sing and dance around to commemorate the legend of Holika. The next day is all about celebrating life and letting loose, which includes the throwing of colour powder.
When is Holi 2024?
Each year, Holi is celebrated in India on the day after the full moon in March. The celebration typically lasts two days, the first featuring bonfires lit for Holika and the second day consisting of the Festival of Colours. In 2024, this year Holi will fall on Monday 25th March.
This date isn’t far away meaning there’s not long to go now until Holi Festival rolls around! If you’re attending a Holi event or throwing one yourself and are looking for bright, high quality and traditional Holi powder, then look no further than Ministry of Colours! And of course, don’t forget your colour powder accessories to take your event to the next level.
We’re very excited for Holi here at Ministry of Colours, especially because we’ll be getting involved in the festivities ourselves as we are the very proud sponsors of Leeds Holi Festival 2024! We’ll be there for the full weekend, providing party-goers with their much needed bags of colour powder and accessories. So make sure you buy a ticket and come visit us!
Our colour powder is sourced directly from India and comes in a variety of colours and sizes to suit your event needs. Why not consider using a colour powder fountain to kickstart your event and cover your guests in a bright cloud of powder?
If you’re unsure how much powder you’ll need for your event, then our handy calculator has you sorted. If you still need some extra guidance however then please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we’d be more than happy to help you with everything you need to host the perfect event. Drop us an email at hello@ministryofcolours.com or call us on 0330 321 3996, we look forward to hearing from you!
Here's to 2024!
Well, what a year it has been. Lots of highs, as well as a few lows, but as we look back, it has been a great year overall with many more of our lovely customers having great fun and raising lots of money with our products.
We hope you all enjoyed yourselves and that your events and celebrations went well and we look forward to helping you again in 2024. Take a look at our Socials to see what everyone has been up to and maybe get some extra inspiration for your own events.
Some of you may have noticed that we have moved again! This time, we are back with our own warehouse so we’ll have much better control over all of our processes and be even better placed to deliver our trade mark friendly and efficient customer service.
That’s not the only big change though. We are very excited to announce that, in 2024, we’ll be introducing even better and brighter colours. We know that it’s all about the colour for us, and you, so we decided to see if we can up our game even more. In the end, there was only one option. Unsurprisingly, that was to go back to sourcing our powder from India which is, after all, the origin of colour throwing powder or Gulal as it’s known in India, and the world-famous Holi festival.
Look out for more information in 2024, we are sure you’ll be impressed with what we have come up with.
We know that we need to be mindful of our carbon footprint, but when we looked into it, a lot of the raw materials need to be imported to the UK anyway. Given the volumes involved, we have to import in containers and these are by far the most efficient way with regards to CO2 emissions.
On that subject, we have been working with our shipping partner and we’ll also be offering you the option to pick up from convenient collection points. This avoids extra miles by the courier, especially if it avoids the need to rearrange deliveries.
Right now, we are preparing for our busiest time which is the run up to Holi. In 2024 it’s March 25th so the days will definitely be getting longer and hopefully warmer by then. We have noticed that more and more of our school customers have been running Holi-themed events. These are great hooks to introduce a wide range of cultural studies to explore how different traditions are celebrated around the world, and here in the UK with our wonderful diverse culture.
We are always amazed and impressed by the creativity of our customers so get your thinking caps on. And don’t forget to share your memories with us!
However you plan to raise money, or just celebrate next year, we wish you all a happy, healthy, (and colourful!) 2024.
The Ministry Of Colours Team
What is Rangoli? The Ultimate Guide
Rangoli is a form of art that originated in India, consisting of bright, colourful patterns that are made using a variety of materials such as rocks, coloured rice and marble dust. But what are the origins of this art form and how is it created?
We’ve put together the ultimate guide on everything you need to know about rangoli and how to create your own vibrant rangoli art.
What is rangoli?
Rangoli is the art of using bright coloured sand or other materials to create intricate and kaleidoscopic designs. These designs typically serve as symbols and have a religious purpose, created to welcome Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and good luck and to keep evil at bay.
Typically in a Hindu household, basic rangoli is practised every day however patterns are primarily made during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. These vibrant patterns can also be seen at weddings, religious celebrations and other Hindu festivals such as Pongal, Tihar and Onam.
Creating rangoli art can be a very enjoyable and relaxing activity for everyone however, as it helps to calm the mind and allows you to practice mindfulness.
What is diwali?
Diwali is the biggest holiday of the year in India with celebrations typically lasting 5 or 6 days. It is on the second day of the festival that people will decorate their homes with clay lamps and create stunning rangoli patterns on the floor in front of their entrance. The main day of the festival (the third day) is when families gather together to make a prayer to the Goddess Lakshmi, followed by a feast and fireworks.
How to make rangoli patterns
Traditional rangoli patterns are made on the floor, often outside the front door, or on a board that can be carried to the desired spot. Patterns should be made on a flat surface (ideally one that’s white to help your design stand out even more!) and with a material of your choice.
Patterns are often designed to be symmetrical, using a combination of straight and curved lines and incorporating imagery of flowers and items from nature.
To begin creating your design, draw an outline of your desired pattern so you know exactly what to fill in and where to place your powder. The next step is simple, grab your colours and start to bring your design to life!
Traditional rangoli art is made using your finger and thumb to spread the powder across the pattern’s outline. To produce easy rangoli designs, we recommend filling up small, easy squeeze applicator bottles with rangoli sand. Doing so will allow you to pour and control the powder more easily and create neater designs!
If you want to bring a bit of colour and mindfulness into your life, then creating rangoli art is the perfect solution. Our Rangoli range is available to purchase here.
Festive Fundraising Ideas For Christmas
Halloween has been and gone and Bonfire Night has passed meaning we are well and truly into November and you know what that means… Christmas is almost here! Well okay, it’s 7 weeks away, but that’s close enough to start getting into the festive spirit! As Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey defrost, it’s time to crack open the mulled wine, grab a mince pie and get the merry tunes on.
For a lot of schools, community groups and businesses, this time of year provides a great opportunity to support local charities and non-profit organisations with Christmas themed fundraising events. If you’re hosting a fundraising event soon and need some joyful and festive themed ideas, we’ve got you covered with a list of activities that are bound to raise a lot of money for your chosen charity and ensure that your event sleighs!
Santa Run
Starting off with a colourful and jolly event, why not throw a Santa fun run for your fundraising event. Imagine a crowd of Santas running through a park, all dressed in colourful red suits and rocking their beards and Santa hats. That will definitely be a sight to behold! Or you could mix it up, holding an elf fun run instead and encourage everyone to wear elf hats and green costumes.
You could even add the colourful element of colour powder to your fun run which will definitely bring even more enjoyment to your participants and add an extra twist to your event. Use red colour powder and green colour powder to stay on trend! And when starting your fun run off, why not blast bright red and green colour powder fountains into the air at the start line to get your participants going?
Christmas Craft Fair
Whether you’re a community group, primary or secondary school or a business throwing a fundraiser, why not let your members get creative and produce some Christmas crafts. This could include some yummy festive treats like gingerbread men, Christmas cupcakes or a chocolate yule log.
Or for those out there looking to get a bit more innovative with their Christmas crafts, you could create some handmade Christmas wreaths, baubles, stockings or garlands - the opportunities are endless!
Once everyone has produced their craft of choice, set up a craft fair in your desired location and invite members of the public to come and purchase everyone’s lovely products, with all profits going to charity.
Christmas Pyjama Day
This next idea is a fun one for both kids and adults, who doesn’t love a pyjama day! Encourage everyone to find their favourite, brightest pair of Christmas pyjamas and spend their whole day (whether at school or at the office) in them, making a charitable donation to do so. You can even take the festive dress to the next level with some cute, novelty head boppers that come in a range of Christmas themed characters!
Christmas Card Sale
This last idea is particularly great for school children, letting their creative, festive juices flow as they design their own Christmas card designs. You could run this as a competition and pick the best designs to be printed as actual Christmas cards or for more options, choose them all! After all, they’ll all be put on sale for people to purchase afterwards, with all proceeds going to your charity of choice.
This idea will definitely be a hit with parents wanting to purchase their child's Christmas card design to give to family members!
And there you have it, 4 wonderful and joyful ideas for fundraising at Christmas! We can’t wait to see what you get up to for your Christmas fundraising events and activities and if you use any of our Christmas products at your events, we’d love to see your photos and videos and how you used them! Please send any content to hello@ministryofcolours.com and you might see yourself on our social media pages!
Chloe's Giant Howarth Sleepout 2023 recap
It was 7pm, Friday 13th, and the journey to undertake the GIANT HOWARTH SLEEPOUT 2 (GHS2), had started. It was a clear night and the stars gave a clear hint as to the cold temperatures to come….
GHS is an event organised in conjunction with the Huddersfield Giants Community Trust (HGCT) and The Howarth Foundation. Brave volunteers spend the night outdoors at the John Smith’s Stadium to raise funds for both causes.
The experience provides a powerful insight into what it is like to spend a night outdoors and how homeless people have to cope on a daily basis.
HGCT is the official charity of The Huddersfield Giants, with a mission to support underserved children. The Howarth Foundation works with local organisations to support individuals who are, or have been, homeless back into employment.
The Ministry of Colours team and I headed down to The Zone in Huddersfield, to meet the participants of the event and discuss the schedule for the night. We were greeted at The Zone, home of HGCT, by the lady herself, Lisa Darwin, the CEO, who welcomed us warmly in preparation for the cold night ahead.
Once the flock had gathered, we headed to The John Smith’s Stadium, to collect our mattresses for the night - cardboard boxes!
Climbing the stairs of the stand, looking for a place on the concrete to rest our heads, it seemed that outside, and in those conditions, there were very few places to get a comfortable night’s sleep.
Laying the cardboard, unravelling our sleeping bags and really feeling the cold air, it began to sink in. Some sort of understanding of the distress that the homeless must be in, trying to find some form of shelter, and sometimes with very little to keep themselves warm.
Once set up, we went to get a hot drink, appreciating how grateful we were to receive what must be a luxury for those on the streets.
It was then time to hear from the Howarth Foundation, the touching story of a former homeless person who now works alongside the Howarth Foundation to help others escape the streets. He told us, how quickly life can change, how suddenly he became homeless and how he wanted to raise awareness to try to stop this happening to others. This touched my heart and made me so grateful for the home I live in.
After the Huddersfield Giants Cheerleaders lead us through the Macarena and Cotton Eye Joe to get us moving in the cold, it was finally, time to head to our cardboard beds. Walking past shelters people had built for themselves to shield the wind was a reminder that when homeless people are outdoors, completely covered with whatever materials they can find, this is necessary to survive the night.
We laid down, not knowing if, or when, we would sleep, despite having the reassurance of knowing that this was an organised event. Unfortunately, most homeless people, don't have the comfort of knowing that they and their belongings are safe for the night as many are sadly subject to attacks and theft.
With the wind blowing, the noise of nearby Huddersfield town and the rustling from others, I began to understand the stress that the homeless must be under to get even a minute’s rest. I can't imagine the mental and physical pain that they go through.
After what seemed like years, I could hear the campers stirring, the clock had hit 5:45am and it was looking like time to pack up. The relief that rushed through me, knowing that I no longer had to lay there in the cold, was second to none. I can only guess as to how the homeless must feel, when they get a steer in the right direction from the Howarth Foundation.
Upon reflection, it’s safe to say that what The Howarth Foundation does is amazing. The appreciation from victims of homelessness, when they get the help that they deserve from the charity, makes this a very worthy cause.
Although it was challenge for the Ministry of Colours team, we will certainly be doing the event again and raising money and awareness for the unfortunate people within our community suffering from poverty and homelessness.
Our donation link is still open....
Thank you all for the donations - it is appreciated by all.
Chloe x
Colourful Halloween Costume Ideas
We’re officially over halfway through October and you know what that means, Halloween is just around the corner! We’re incredibly excited for Halloween here at the MoC office and have been brainstorming our Halloween costume ideas for weeks now.
We thought of all the usual Halloween fancy dress ideas that you see every year, witches, mummies, werewolves etc. But then we thought, why not go for a bit more of a colourful costume? Colour powder isn’t just for fun runs or festivals; it can transform your Halloween into a colourful spectacle.
So if you’re searching for last minute, easy Halloween costume ideas for kids or adults, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. Let’s bring some colour to this Halloween!
Colourful Skeleton Halloween Costume Ideas
A skeleton is a simple, yet effective costume and screams Halloween. But who says they have to be black and white? We definitely don’t! Ditch the boring old monochromatic skeleton costume and instead grab some of our vibrant colour powder, a black t-shirt and black trousers.
Draw out your skeleton design on the t-shirt and trousers with some glue and pour the powder over. Once dried and ready to be worn, paint your face with a spooky skeleton head and there you have it, a scary, simple but electrifying Halloween costume!
Dia de los Muertos Costume Ideas
The Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated in Mexico, full of life and colour. It’s common during this celebration for people to paint their faces with a colourful sugar skull design, wear bright clothing and floral headbands and hats.
Taking inspiration from this vibrant celebration will make for a fun, easy and colourful Hallowen costume, creating a chance to get a bit creative with your sugar skull face paint.
80s Pop Star Halloween Costume Ideas
Travel back in time to the era of neon with this easy 80s pop star Halloween costume idea. Our tip is that the more colour you can include, the better for this costume! Think bright legwarmers, neon leotards or t-shirts and of course, you can’t forget the accessories. You’ll need a neon pair of sunglasses for sure, bold jewellery and a headband to match your big hairstyle.
Artist Halloween Costume Ideas
Now this one may be the simplest Halloween costume out of the bunch, but it’s still a colourful consideration. Turn yourself into your own living work of art by starting with an apron or some oversized clothing. Then, here comes the fun part! Taking some of our colour powder (choose any colours you like) throw them all over the clothing like paint splatters and with the addition of a paint palette and a brush as props, you’ve got the perfect, easy to put together costume for Halloween night.
Additional Ways To Make Your Halloween Colourful
Unique Halloween Party Decorations
Planning a Halloween party? Colour powder can take your decorations to the next level. Use it to craft spooky centrepieces, fill jars, or even create funky table runners. You can layer different colours in glass containers to mimic potions brewing in a cauldron.
Spooky Games & Fun Activities for Kids
Kids love hands-on activities, and playing with colour powder can be a blast at any kind of gathering. Create a mini colour party with a safe, supervised throw fest. Let kids toss colour powder at each other while wearing white T-shirts. It’s a fantastic way to get them laughing and having fun. Consider a scavenger hunt where children hunt for sweets and each time they one, a burst of colour is released into the air. You can also play a spooky version of dodgeball, where players throw colour powder-filled bags instead of balls. It’s the fun twists on classic games that add an exciting vibe everyone will remember.
Halloween Crafts with Rangoli
Crafting is another fun way to incorporate colour powder into a colourful Halloween. You can create bright Halloween-themed art with our Rangoli art kits and glue. Just think: spooky ghosts or spooky trees that can come alive with colour! Not only will this keep you busy, but it also lets your inner artist shine.
So, there you have it! With these colourful and vibrant Halloween ideas, you can let your creativity run wild. Well guys, gals and ghouls, we hope you all have a colourful and spooktacular Halloween! May your night be full of scares, laughter and plenty of sweets and chocolate!
What is Diwali and why do we celebrate?
🌈Megan's Colour Powder Divorce Party🌵
Megan's Colour Powder Divorce Party
New beginnings
An unforgettable act of kindness
A totally unique celebration
Stain-free and ready to donate!
Gender Reveal Ideas To Celebrate The Exciting News
Here’s a fun fact for you all that you might not have known - September is the most popular month for babies to be born! That’s right, data has shown that 8 out 10 of the top dates of birth were in September, particularly towards the end of the month. Having a baby is an exciting time and there are lots of joyful moments that happen in the run-up to the birth. These include hospital scans, baby showers and of course, gender reveals!
Gender reveals have massively grown in popularity over the years and parents are choosing to announce their baby’s gender in a unique and special way, with family and friends gathered all in one place.
There’s been some wacky and wonderful gender reveal ideas that have gone viral over the years (sometimes for the wrong reasons!) but we’re here to bring you a list of some of the best gender reveal ideas that you can do at home with friends and family.
Let’s get started.
Gender Reveal Cake
A simple but effective idea that will not only look great, but taste great too and your guests will definitely be pleased to have a sweet treat after the big reveal!
Using cakes as part of your gender reveal can be done in different ways, such as with a big, show-stopping cake that reveals either blue or pink frosting inside when cut into. Or if you want to involve all of your guests, hand everyone an individual gender reveal cupcake, so everyone finds out together when they bite into it.
Gender Reveal Balloon
Using a balloon to reveal the baby’s gender is a popular choice and a super fun way to make the announcement for everyone to see. Balloons are also quite versatile and offer different uses to make your reveal special. Using a large cardboard box, fill this with either multiple pink or blue helium balloons, or one large balloon and when the box opens and the balloons rise up, the celebrations can begin!
Or if you’re looking for something a little bit more fun, grab a giant black helium balloon and fill it with either blue or pink colour powder. Then, surrounded by family either pop the balloon yourself or involve children and siblings for the perfect gender reveal!
Gender Reveal Colour Fountains
Using a gender reveal colour fountain is a fantastic and entertaining way to announce the exciting news to your guests - just make sure you do this outside! Our colour fountains are white in design, concealing the colour of the powder inside, and are super easy to use. Simply hold upright, connect the black hose, remove the safety pin and fire! For 20 continuous seconds, you will experience a stream of either blue or pink powder to elevate your special moment, making for a great photo opportunity and providing memories to last a lifetime!
We were thrilled to recently supply former Love Islander, Biggs Chris and his partner Summer, four gender reveal colour fountains for their gender reveal party which looked absolutely gorgeous. Experience the burst of colour and excitement in their reveal video.
Gender Reveal Confetti Cannon
Who doesn’t love a bit of confetti? Confetti cannons make for an impressive and striking gender reveal, shooting pink or blue confetti into the air to surprise guests. Additionally, confetti cannons provide a fantastic photo opportunity, allowing you to capture the magic of the moment forever.
You can also choose to get all of your guests involved with the fun, supplying everyone at the party with a confetti cannon and letting them all go off at the same time, a great way to share the enjoyment!
Gender Reveal Pinata
If you’re looking for a more unique idea for your gender reveal party, why not use a pinata to make the special announcement? This will allow you to get your guests involved in revealing the big surprise as they have a go at trying to crack it open, especially for any soon-to-be siblings! Either order a pinata full of pink or blue confetti or have a go at making one yourself if you’re wanting to show off your DIY skills.
Celebrating the gender of your soon-to-arrive bundle of joy is an incredibly exciting time and whether you opt for a more classic reveal with balloons, or something more unique, you’re bound to have created memories with loved ones that you’ll cherish forever.
If you do happen to use any of our products as part of your special day, we’d love to know how it went. Send us your pictures or videos to hello@ministryofcolours.com and we may share them across our social media pages!