celebrate
Holi festival
Mark this ancient Hindu tradition on 8 March with a colourful feast from Urvashi Roe
photographs TOBY SCOTT
Urvashi Roe is a freelance food writer based in north London. She writes for a range of publications and was a contestant on The Great British Bake Off. When not working, travelling and collecting recipes, Urvashi can be found pottering on her allotment or in the gym. Urvashi’s first book, Biting Biting: Snacking Gujarati-style, is out now (£20, Kitchen Press) @UrvashiRoe
easy
Holi is a Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring, the end of winter and a fruitful harvest season ahead. It’s usually in March and lasts for a night and day. When I was little, we used to light a bonfire in the garden on the night before – burning away any evil intentions, making amends and repairing friendships.
On the day of Holi, we wear white and smear friends and family with ‘rang ’, or colours. Everyone is fair game, regardless of gender, age or background! We wear white so the colours are vibrant and undisguised. We tease, we make fun of each other, we dance, we sing, we laugh and, of course, we eat.