Forget grey skies and dull days! Belfast is about to go totally technicolour with the biggest and most vibrant Festival of Colours ever seen in the city.

On Sunday 3rd April 2016 Titanic Exhibition Centre will be the venue for the vivid, dye-throwing multi-colour frenzy which is at the heart of the annual Holi festival (the word ‘Holi’ means ‘colour’ in Hindi).

Thousands of revellers of all ages are expected to join in the fun to welcome the arrival of spring in a spectacular fusion of colour, culture and creativity. Classic and contemporary music and dance and great ethnic cuisine will all add to the family-friendly atmosphere and excitement, hosted by local celebrity Pete Snodden.

This year the colour powder party will be a double celebration as ArtsEkta, Northern Ireland’s leading ethnic arts organisation, and the power behind the 2016 Holi Festival of Colour, marks the launch of its tenth anniversary year.

Looking forward to the magnificent mayhem, ArtsEkta Director Nisha Tandon, says, “This is one of the must ebullient and exuberant events of the year and a colourful way to shake off the Winter Blues. It’s a high-spirited, fun day out for everyone: just put on your oldest clothes and be prepared to get covered in splashes of multi-coloured dyes and make lots of new friends!

“Holi is a great Indian tradition, now much loved right around the world, and we’re excited about bringing it into the new Titanic Exhibition Centre. We are inviting the whole city to help us mark the start of our 10th year anniversary celebrations by joining together for one big party, – and it’s a brilliant excuse for all of us to get in touch with our Inner Child with a day that is sheer fun from beginning to end! ”

Welcoming the fluorescent festival to Belfast, Deputy Lord Mayor Alderman Guy Spence, said, “The Festival of Colour is a terrific event, and a terrific way for us all to celebrate the contribution which the Indian community makes to our city. It is also a brilliant celebration of the work of ArtsEkta, and all they have done for both community relations and the cultural life of our city, which definitely would be much poorer in both regards without them.”

For canny colour-throwers, there is an opportunity to beat the queues by booking tickets online at www.artsekta.org.uk. Admission is £15 for families (2 adults and 2 children under 16) and £5 for adults. Concession tickets are £4 (Under 16s and Senior Citizens). Under 5s go free.