Spinney Hill park in the city was yesterday full of colour as thousands of people came out to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Holi.
Holi is a spring festival celebrated by Hindus throughout the world, in Leicester the celebrations have been taking place in Spinney Hill park since 1985.
The origins of the celebrations come from the story of Holika, the evil sister of demon Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu tried to make everyone worship him, but his son Prahlada, refused, and swore his devotion to Vishnu. According to the legend, Holika then tried to trick Prahlada into sitting on a pyre with her, because she had a fireproof cloak, but when the fire burned the cloak flew onto Prahlada, protecting him while Holika was killed. As such, the tale symbolises the classic victory of good over evil.
