Introduced to the Rotorua community in 2010, the Festival of Colours is the Holi-Hindu Festival that is the second most significant religious festival after Deepavali in India. A spring festival glorifying fertility and good harvest of the land, it has been practiced since early times.

A vibrant event spreading joy all around, folk dance and songs are part of its dynamic festivities. The colourful event sees people soaking up the festival spirit by spreading coloured powder and water on each other. It is a celebration that bridges perceived gaps in society, bringing various communities together. 

Migrant Indian communities all throughout the globe including New Zealand celebrate the Festival of Colours with as much enthusiasm and fanfare as in India. The Hindu Council of New Zealand and Ngati Taiao introduced the festival to the Rotorua public for the first time.  Although initially the event was held here to build Hindu-Maori relations, it surprisingly has appealed to a broad spectrum of people and faiths.

Just as in India, the customary cultural performances and the revelry of coloured powder and water tossing are the highlight of the Festival of Colours in Rotorua. An ethnic food and craft market also takes place at the event.

Not only the Rotorua public, but also local visitors from Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga as well as international visitors from Netherlands, Germany, England, Belgium, France, Brazil and Canada eagerly participate in the festivities. This unique festival is set to get bigger in the future.

An excellent forerunner for community interactions and similar engagements, this watershed occasion is an alcohol-free and meat-free event with the potential of becoming a permanent Youth Festival in Rotorua.