All the colour of the Holi Festival landed in Lake Wendouree's Fairyland today (Saturday March 23).
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To a thumping Bollywood soundtrack, Ballarat's Indian community and many others besides dabbed and scattered a rainbow of colourful powders on each others' faces, hair and clothes.
People wished friends, family and complete strangers "Happy Holi" as the sun shone down by the water's edge.
Children chased each other with water-pistols and there was dancing - including a special Bollywood performance - on the third occasion the festival has been held by the lake.
Despite a wet start to the day, the weather ultimately proved kind to a high-spirited crowd, as Ballarat's expanding Indian population marked the traditional Hindu spring festival.
It's open for everyone, as you can see, there's a lot of people from other communities here and most of them are enjoying it just as much
- Meeta Narsi,president of the Ballarat Indian Association
There were $2 eco-friendly packets of colour - known as gulal - available from a stall for people to get involved in a high-spirited occasion, which is also supposed to mark the triumph of good over evil.
Organisers were very happy with the way the event, which formed part of Ballarat's Harmony Fest and Cultural Diversity Week, was embraced by the community.
Meeta Narsi, the president of the Ballarat Indian Association which puts the event on with the support of the council, said: "It's open for everyone, as you can see, there's a lot of people from other communities here, we've got of Australians here, and most of them are enjoying it just as much.
"It's getting all the people together. Most of them are from India, and they're used to celebrating this event at home, so it's making them feel at home, in their home town, in Ballarat."
"As you can see, everyone is having lots of fun, there's a lot of colour happening as well, we all need a bit of colour."
Bella Day, who lives in Mount Clear, was also there. She said: "I love learning about different cultures... I had heard about the Holi Festival before and I've always wanted to come, and there's finally a chance to do it to it today."
Sunny Kumar, who lives locally, was there with his wife and two children. "It's the second time I'm coming here, it's a good place," he told The Courier.
"The kids love the colours, the kids love mingling with other people, playing with the colours and dancing."
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