Holi Phagwa (Festival of Colours)

The Hindu festival of colours is a national holiday and one of the most joyous days of the Surinamese year, celebrated far beyond the Hindustani community.

Parks and open fields fill with clouds of coloured gulal powder, chowtal singing and music. Friends, families and complete strangers paint each other head to toe, and by mid-afternoon half the country is pink, green and purple. The date follows the Hindu lunar calendar and usually falls in March.

Good to know: Wear white clothes you are willing to sacrifice, keep your phone in a zip bag and join in. Spectators rarely stay clean for long.