Diwali Ideas For Schools and Students
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is just around the corner! During Diwali celebrations, millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world mark new beginnings and come together with friends and family.
Here are some fun and educational Diwali activities and ideas for lessons plans to help students celebrate the festival, while understanding its history and traditions.
Teach The History of Diwali
Before any crafts or activities begin, the best way to introduce students to Diwali is to teach them the history behind the festival and its cultural significance. There are many stories regarding the origins of Diwali, however the most common is the story of Lord Rama. Following his return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, people lit diyas to celebrate his homecoming. This marks the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, one of the central themes of the festival.
Lesson plans can include encouraging students to research how Diwali celebrations differ across different regions and cultures around the world. For instance, in North India people light diyas around their home, similar to the story of Lord Rama. In West India however people seek the blessings of Lakshimi, the goddess of wealth by creating intricate rangoli designs on their doorsteps and leaving offerings.
Create Your Own Rangoli Patterns
For students to further learn about the festival’s traditions and partake in a fun Diwali activity, they can try their hand at designing their own rangoli patterns. Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form where bright, bold and stunning patterns are created on the ground using coloured sand, rice or flowers.
Creating rangoli art in schools is a great way to foster creativity and get students creating fun and bright art that can be used in the classroom. To make this activity traditional, use rangoli art kits that include coloured sand or marble dust. Using easy-squeeze bottles, students can draw mandala patterns directly on tables, the floor or paper to better understand this Diwali activity and the significance behind it.
For those who don’t want to risk using coloured sand or marble dust indoors, rangoli art can also be created using tissue paper, stickers or simply colouring in downloadable rangoli patterns!
Make Diwali Paper Lanterns
As we mentioned before, Diwali is also known as the festival of lights and therefore lights, lamps and lanterns are heavily associated with the celebrations. Another great traditional Diwali activity for students to explore and further their learning is making paper lanterns. During Diwali, lanterns, also known as kandeels, are often hung outside of homes and throughout the streets as part of the festival.
In the classroom, provide students with a sheet of plain or coloured paper. Ask them to cut off one end of the paper and set aside to be used later as a handle. Then using coloured pens or paint let them decorate their sheet however they want before folding and cutting patterns into the paper. Once finished, students can stick their sheet together to form a cylinder and attach the handle to have their very own Diwali lantern!
Bake Diwali Recipes
Food plays a big role in Diwali traditions, with families and friends coming together to share feasts and treats during the festival. If your school has a kitchen, students can have fun learning how to make traditional Diwali snacks and sweets such as ladoos, burfi and samosas!
Here at Ministry of Colours, we’ve been getting in the Diwali spirit with our own rangoli collection! We’ve been getting creative in the office designing our own Diwali patterns and enjoying the mindful experience rangoli brings. Our rangoli art colour kit is perfect for easily creating fun and vibrant patterns, making it ideal Diwali activity for students. Each kit comes with 7 vibrant colours made from authentic marble dust in easy-squeeze bottles so unique designs can be made with ease.
If you’re looking to for ideal Diwali activities for children and are in need of craft ideas, then look no further than our rangoli art kits. We also offer refill kits so you don’t have to worry about your class running out! To find out more about our rangoli kits and use them in your classroom, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our team.
How Is Colour Powder Used In Special Effects?
You may have noticed, but here at Ministry of Colours we’re pretty enthusiastic about colour powder and one of the things we love most about it is how versatile it can be. From fundraising events to festivals to gender reveals, the possibilities are endless. But the versatility of colour powder doesn’t end there!
Beyond events, colour powder is perfect for photography and videography shoots, adding a fun and visual element to shots. As all of our colour powder products are non-toxic and made using natural ingredients, they’re perfectly safe to use in special effects make-up and set design too.
Whether you’re aiming to capture vibrant photographs or create stunning visuals in your scenes, colour powder is a safe and ideal way to transform projects into striking masterpieces. Let’s dive into the world of coloured FX powder and discover exactly how it can be used to enhance creative projects.
Using Colour Powder For Backgrounds & Visual Effects
If you’re looking to take a photography shoot to the next level, then using colour throwing powder to create visual backgrounds is the way to go. Whether you’re capturing portraits, group shots or doing some pet photography, incorporating vibrant bursts of colour can add a dynamic element to your images.
Or better yet, colour powder is great to use for videography projects due to the visual nature of the product. You can see the colour powder being thrown or exploding in real time to create striking bursts of colour across the screen. Using colour powder for video projects has become quite popular amongst music artists and has featured in a number of music videos in recent years.
A great example of this is Madeon’s music video for The City, which shows a group of people throwing colour bombs at each other across a city in slow-mo, creating amazing visuals and a rainbow of colours. Paramore’s Now music video is another great example of how colour powder can be used to create visual effects on video, with the different coloured powders being used to simulate blood in a battle.
On film shoots, colour powder can be used in pyrotechnics to create vibrant and dynamic visual effects across explosions in action scenes or celebration sequences to create striking moments on screen. Most colour powders are easy to clean by simply vacuuming everything up, wiping everything down or washing it all away with water, so there’s no need to worry about damaging a set.
Using Colour Powder In Set Design
By using colour powder in set design, filmmakers can add a bold and creative element to their scenes. For example, white colour powder can be used to replicate a snowy landscape, creating a textured and wintry scene with ease. Bright, colourful powders can also be used to create explosions or magical effects to make scenes more visually appealing.
Using Colour Powder For Make-Up & Clothing
Colour powder can also be used in photography and videography to create special effects make-up, or enhance clothing pieces to add dramatic effects to them. Red colour powder can be used to replicate blood for example whilst bright blues, greens and purples can be used to create fantasy style looks for sci-fi films.
It’s important to ensure that the type of colour powder being used is safe for skin and fabrics to avoid causing irritation or damage. Always check the ingredients to make sure the powder is non-toxic and made using natural materials.
The good news is that here at Ministry of Colours, all of our colour powder products are indeed non-toxic and made from natural ingredients! Our colour powder range comes in a variety of different colours to suit whatever creative project you may need them for. We have 10 different high-quality colours available, from bright yellows, pinks and blues to neutral shades of white and black. And for creating colour explosions, make sure to check out our colour powder fire-extinguisher fountains. They’re perfect for creating big and bright clouds of colour!
If you have a videography project coming up and are looking to create special effects using colour powder, then look no further than Ministry of Colours. Get in touch with a member of our team to find out more about our products and how we can help bring your project to life.
What Is Diwali? The Ultimate Guide
Diwali, also known as Deepvali, is the Hindu festival of lights. Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, Diwali marks a major moment in the calendar, with festival celebrations lasting five days. It’s a festival of new beginnings and celebrating the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, often coinciding with harvest celebrations.
But how is the festival celebrated and what is diwali about? Well, we’ve got all the answers you need right here! Our ultimate guide to Diwali covers everything you need to know, from diwali traditions, the history of diwali and how you can get involved in the celebrations yourself.
What Is The Meaning of Diwali?
The name Diwali derives from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means ‘row of lights’. There are many interpretations of the history and background of Diwali, with the most common being the story of Lord Rama. In Hindu mythology, Diwali marks the day that Lord Rama, his wife Sita Devi and his brother Lakshmana returned home following 14 years of exile. After Rama defeated the demon king Ravana, the villagers celebrated his return by lighting diyas to welcome him home.
Diwali then became known as a celebration of light, new beginnings and making a fresh start. Many consider it the start of their new year and begin making plans for a new start, in the same way that people make new year’s resolutions.
Why Is Diwali Celebrated?
Not only do Diwali celebrations mark the return of Lord Rama and new beginnings, but the festival also honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. For many, Diwali festival is a tribute to Lakshmi.
During Diwali, lamps are lit and windows and doors are left open to help Lakshmi find her way into people’s homes. Many Hindus believe that by worshipping Lakshmi, they will be blessed with fortune and success.
How Is Diwali Celebrated?
As mentioned, Diwali is a five day festival with different celebrations, events and activities happening on each day.
Day One – Dhanteras
The first day, known as the Day of Fortune, is all about good luck, wealth and valuables. On this day, people thoroughly clean their family homes and create colourful and intricate Rangoli patterns on their doorstep using flowers, rocks or coloured sand.
Day Two – Naraka Chaturdashi
Day two, also known as Choti Diwali, focuses on the triumph of good over evil. During the evening, houses are lit with oil lamps and in some areas, effigies of evil are made and burnt.
Day Three – Diwali
Day three, the most important day of the festival! Also known as Lakshmi Puja, on this day people celebrate Diwali by lighting diyas (oil lamps) and enjoy huge firework displays. It is on this day that people leave their doors and windows open for the goddess Lakshmi to enter their homes.
Day Four – Govardhan Pujan or Bali Pratipada
The fourth day of the festival involves visiting friends and family as well as symbolising the love between husband and wife. The day generally consists of families dressing up in new clothes and jewellery and visiting each other to bring gifts and sweets.
Day Five – Bhai Dooj
The fifth and final day of Diwali celebrations focuses on the bond between siblings. It’s tradition on this day for brothers to visit their sisters’ homes with gifts. In return, the sisters often prepare a feast and pray for the protection and wellbeing of their brothers’.
When Is Diwali Celebrated?
According to the Hindu calendar, Diwali always falls on Amavasya, the 15th day of the month of Kartik. Usually, this is between late October and early November.
Can I Celebrate Diwali?
Yes, anyone can celebrate Diwali! There are many ways to get involved with diwali celebrations and mark the occasion. This could involve setting up a fireworks display in your garden at home, exchanging gifts with your family and friends or decorating your house with lights and candles.
Or, if you fancy getting creative, you can create your own Rangoli patterns using vibrant colours and intricate designs. The best way to do this? With our at home Rangoli kits of course! We’ve developed these kits to let everybody try out Rangoli and enjoy creating their own fun and colourful patterns. Our kits consist of seven vibrant bottles of coloured sand and are ideal to create Rangoli patterns at home, in schools or even outside on the pavement as they are traditionally done.
We’ve designed our kits with ease in mind as all colours come in easy to use squeezy bottles to give you complete control over your design. There’s no need to worry about running out either as we’ve got plenty of refills available to ensure you can create as many designs as possible! And if you want to take your Rangoli art to the next level, why not consider our scented Rangoli Ylang Ylang marble dust? Ylang ylang is an essential oil known for alleviating anxiety and helping to calm the mind, making it the perfect addition to your Rangoli activities.
Celebrate Diwali and get started with your Rangoli art with Ministry of Colours. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a beginner, we provide all of the tools you need to create stunning Rangoli masterpieces. If you have any questions about our Rangoli kits and would like to know more about them, please get in touch with a member of our team. We’d love to help you unleash your creativity!
How To Use Colour Powder In Sports Activities
With the end of the school year and the six weeks holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get into the sporting mood with some activities of your own. But not just any old sporting activities, we’re talking about colour powder sports!
That’s right, we’re going to let you in on how to incorporate colour powder into your sporting activities to make them more fun, colourful and exciting.
Colour Run
As runners set off from the starting line colour fountains are typically used to kickstart the event and get participants covered in their first cloud of colour powder. Then as they proceed around the course, they’re showered in bursts of colours from attendees who are well stocked with individual bags of colour throwing powder. The aim is to end up covered in as many colours as possible!
To make these colours stand out, participants are encouraged to wear white clothing that they don’t mind getting messy, such as a plain white t-shirt. And to complete the look, we always recommend going the full mile with colourful accessories like neon sunglasses, floral leis and wristbands!
Colour Powder ‘Tag’ Rugby
If you’re hosting a child’s birthday party this summer and want a sporty yet fun activity to keep the kids entertained, why not consider a game of tag rugby using colour powder instead of tags? Wondering how that works? Let us explain.
First things first, the key difference between rugby and tag rugby is that there’s no tackling involved in tag rugby, making it much more safer for children to play. Typically participants would wear a belt with velcro tags attached to them and the aim is to remove a tag from whoever is carrying the ball to ‘tackle’ them. Rather than using velcro tags however, we suggest making things a bit more colourful with colour powder!
To get things started, split your participants into two teams and assign each of them a colour, blue and red for example. Take some blue and red powder, pour some on a plate and have participants press their hand into their corresponding team’s colour to cover it in powder. Where they would usually pull a tag off the ball carrier to ‘tackle’ them, instead they’ll press their hand to their top to mark them as tagged! Once someone has two handprints on their top, they’re out.
Top tip, we recommend kitting all of the kids out in white t-shirts to make sure that the colour powder handprints show up and you can see who’s been ‘tackled’.
Colour Powder Olympics Sports Day
To truly get into the spirit of the Olympics, why not host a sports day in your local community, sports club or youth club? The day can be filled with a host of different sporting activities that you’d usually see at the Olympics, but with a colourful twist to them.
Activities such as relay races, shot put, archery and javelin are ideal for incorporating colour powder into to make them more vibrant and visual. We’ve previously listed a variety of Olympic themed colour activities and how to host them so make sure to check that out to get started with your event.
We even offer shades of colour powder in all of the colours of the Olympic rings, including black, to truly help bring your event to life.
When organising a colour powder event, no matter the occasion or the activity, you want to ensure that you’re using non-toxic colour powder. At Ministry of Colours, we’re proud to offer colour throwing powder that is safe and suitable for a range of ages to enjoy.
Our powder is easy to clean and whilst we recommend hosting any colour events outdoors, you don’t need to worry about your environment and making a mess as the powder will wash away with a bit of water and rain.
Get started on preparing your colour powder sports day by placing your order today. If you’re unsure on how much powder you’ll need for your event, make sure to use our handy colour powder calculator. Based on the number of participants, it’ll tell you exactly how much powder you’ll need and let you select the colours you want. Alternatively, drop us a message with any questions you have and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible to help make your event a success!
The Top 5 Best Festival Accessories
The summertime means only one thing for many people: the festival season.
It's arguably the best time of the year to get together with friends, hit the road, and take a long weekend out to have the time of your life at a festival. But to ensure the best experience, what should you take with you other than the essentials? Fear not, Ministry of Colours are here to help! If you're looking to supercharge your festival experience with our array of the best festival accessories, then this blog is for you.
Whether you’re heading to a music festival like Glastonbury, or an arts festival like Edinburgh Arts Festival, there's nothing quite like soaking up the sun with some of your closest friends and family. However, a massive part of pre-festival planning involves making a statement with your outfit and accompanying accessories. With that in mind, we've selected some of our most popular festival accessory essentials that you won't want to leave the house without!
Our Top 5 Fun Festival Accessories
1. Sunglasses
Striking the perfect balance between style and practicality, our colourful UV400 sunglasses are here to brighten up your festival, all while keeping your eyes protected from the sun. Sunglasses are essential protection at any event, but at a festival you are best leaving your Oakley or Ray-Ban at home. Opt for a pack of value sunglasses that you don’t mind losing in the big crowds! Pick some up for your friends too so you can all join in on the fun.
2. Glow Sticks
It's time to head home and get some sleep when the sun goes down at a festival, right? Wrong! The party is only just getting started as the night descends, so you’ll be needing some fun festival accessories to bring some light to the occasion. Wear our glow sticks around your neck to make a statement and continue the party long into the night. The perfect product to get your rave on!
3. Poncho
Good weather is never guaranteed at festivals, or the UK in general! Sometimes, out of the blue (quite literally), a downpour comes along that can really dampen your festival spirit. Wearing a bulky raincoat throughout the festival is never a good idea, as you'll only be left awkwardly holding it when the weather brightens up again. Don't let a little rain ruin your festival experience. With our compact, lightweight and waterproof poncho, you can pull this must have festival accessory out to keep yourself dry while others run for shelter! Our waterproof phone pouches are also a great investment to keep your mobile devices protected whilst capturing the festival in all its glory, no matter the weather.
4. T-Shirts
Festivals can transcend into some of the muddiest places on earth. You don't want to be taking your designer tops to get ruined, should the weather turn. For a rainy festival outfit idea, invest in some of our plain, budget friendly T-Shirts that can be disposed of without breaking the bank!
5. Colour Powder
Add a splash of colour to your festival with bags of safe and vibrant colour powder! There is no other festival accessory that promotes joy and togetherness quite like our colour powder does. Cover your friends and loved ones in an array of colours to really stand out in the sea of festivalgoers.
Get Festival Ready Now!
Lifelong memories are made at festivals, so ensure you're well-equipped! After purchasing our list of accessories for festivals, you should be all set for making the most out of any event. Simply head over to the Ministry of Colours store, where you can pick up all of the festival supplies listed in this blog, and more! Get your fill of products, then rock up to your next festival or rave in style.
What Is A Colour Powder War?
Finally the weather is starting to pick up and the return of outdoor events is almost here. Do you know what that means? Colour events are back! From colour runs, to festivals, to at home colour parties, it’s time to start preparing for an explosion of colourful activities.
If you’re looking to organise your own colour event this summer, then look no further than a colour powder war. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what a colour powder war is, how to organise one and ideas to make yours a success.
What is a colour powder war?
A colour powder war sees two teams up against each other, battling it out in a frenzy of colour. Participants throw different coloured colour powder at each other, with the winning team being the one that covers the opposing team in the most powder.
A colour powder war is a great activity for kids birthday parties, end of year school celebrations and group events. It’s a chance for everyone to get together, let loose and create a bit of a mess while having fun.
How do I organise a colour powder war?
First things first, you want to find a large, outdoor area to host your game. It’s going to get a bit messy with colours flying everywhere, so outdoor spaces are best advised for a colour war.
Next, decide how you want to organise your colour war. Do you want to turn it into more of a game? Are there any rules involved? Once you’ve decided this, you’ll want to choose your guests and split them into two teams. Each team then needs to be assigned a colour, such as red vs blue. This will be the colour of the powder they’ll use for the event.
Last, but not least, you’ll need to determine how much colour throwing powder you need depending on the amount of guests you have. You definitely don’t want to be running out in the middle of a colour war! The good news is we have a handy colour powder guide that will help to work this out for you.
What do I need for a colour powder war?
To organise a successful colour war event, there are some essential things you’re going to need. Most importantly – colour powder. It wouldn’t quite be a colour war without it!
You’ll also want to decide what’s the best way for participants to throw the powder at each other and how you’re going to supply it to them. You could portion the powder out into plastic cups for them to throw from, or hand them individual colour powder packets. Or to take the colour war to the next level, create colour powder bombs by making your own DIY hacky sacks using old socks. This way your powder will last longer and the colour bombs can be reused throughout the battle.
Next up, white t-shirts are vital for any colour powder event, especially a colour war. A plain white t-shirt helps you dress for the mess as they’re ideal for showing off the colour powder that’s being thrown around. This also makes it easier to determine which team is the winner and who has managed to cover the opposing teams in their colour the most! Most colour powders can stain clothing, so it’s always best to dress in something you don’t mind becoming a bit more colourful than it was before.
And of course, every colour event needs colourful accessories. Kit your participants out in accessories that match their team colour, such as neon sunglasses, colourful leis or sun visors.
Colour powder war ideas
You can’t go wrong with a straight up colour war. It’s a simple game that allows participants to have fun, run around and just throw colour powder at each other. It won’t take long before it becomes a competitive battle and teams are doing everything to ensure victory! You can always take your colour war to the next level by introducing obstacles for players to hide and dodge behind.
If you have an event space large enough, then capture the flag is a fun and exciting game for everyone to get involved in. Create separate territories for teams to hide their flag in and supply them with colour bombs or packets of powder to mark members of the opposing team. If someone is hit with powder in the opposing team’s territory, then they’re out.
Here at Ministry of Colours, our colour powder is perfect for any and all colour events, including colour powder wars. We specialise in supplying non-toxic colour powder that is made using safe and natural ingredients. This makes it ideal for school environments and kids birthday parties.
We supply our powder in 100g, 1kg and 5kg bags, meaning we’ve got you covered no matter the scale of your event. If you require a helping hand planning your event or have any queries regarding our colour powder, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch! A member of our team will be more than happy to help you make your event the best it can be.
If you throw a colour powder war over the summer, then we’d love to see your images and how you’ve organised your event! Tag us any photos or videos over on our social media or email them to us at hello@ministryofcolours.co.uk.
4 Rangoli Art Ideas To Get Started
Rangoli art, with its vibrant colours and unique designs, has been an important part of Indian culture for centuries. Materials such as marble dust, coloured rice or rocks are used to create intricate and colourful Rangoli designs on the floor, typically during festivals and celebrations such as Diwali.
Since the launch of our new Rangoli art kits, we’ve been enjoying practising our own Rangoli patterns and getting to grips with producing colourful designs. If you’ve never given Rangoli art a go before, then you’re missing out! Not only does it look amazing, but creating Rangoli art can be a very relaxing activity and allows you to practise mindfulness to calm your mind.
Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry as we’ve put together this guide of 4 common Rangoli designs to get you started. Grab yourself a Rangoli kit and let's start creating!
Flower Rangoli
Flowers are a common symbol in Rangoli art and feature in a lot of patterns due to their elegance and beauty. There are so many ways to bring flowers into your Rangoli art, whether you opt for a singular, large flower as your design or create an entire garden of gorgeous flowers with different sizes and shapes. Either way, this is an opportunity to let your imagination blossom!
Peacock Rangoli
Peacocks are very majestic animals, known for their stunning plumage of colourful feathers. This makes peacocks a popular choice for Rangoli art as their vibrant colours and intricate patterns are ideal for incorporating into designs.
Peacock Rangoli designs can be made by drawing a large circular outline as the base of your design. Make sure to add a neck and head to your design to bring your peacock to life. Then, use shades of blue, green and purple (or whatever colours take your fancy!) to outline the circle with patterns that resemble feathers. Follow this easy peacock Rangoli tutorial to create your own stand out design.
Mandala Rangoli
A mandala is a geometric design that is symbolic within the Hindu culture. In Sanskrit, the classical language of India, mandala translates to circle, the common shape of these designs. They are then filled with intricate and detailed patterns that join together with a single, central point. Mandalas serve a specific purpose and are used to enlighten the mind and assist with healing during meditation.
Creating your own mandala Rangoli pattern can be very soothing and a therapeutic experience, whilst also allowing you to get creative and colourful with your design. Begin by drawing a central circle, then gradually expand outwards with geometric patterns and symmetrical shapes. If you’re in need of some mandala inspiration, download our Rangoli design templates to get started!
Lotus Pond Rangoli
The lotus flower and lotus ponds symbolise serenity and tranquillity and therefore often appear in Rangoli patterns. These patterns are created to provide a sense of peace and harmony and are commonly used in meditation or spiritual spaces.
To create your own lotus pond Rangoli, start by sketching a large lotus flower in the centre of your design and then surround this with floating leaves. Using bright colours of pink and green, bring this scene to life and outline the design in white to really make it pop.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an artist or a beginner, Rangoli art is something that everyone can get involved in to release their creative flair whilst also winding down and completing a relaxing activity.
Our Rangoli art kits are a great way to get started with this activity and are perfect for beginners. Our kits are made from authentic marble dust and are available in 7 bright colours that come in easy to use squeezy bottles, giving you complete control over your design. And don’t worry about running out of colours as we also have Rangoli refill packs to ensure that you can keep creating your wonderful designs. You can even take your Rangoli art to the next level with our Rangoli Ylang Ylang scented marble dust!
If you require any extra information about our range of Rangoli products then please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’re more than happy to help!
What Is A Colour Run?
Taking inspiration from the ancient Hindu festival of Holi, a colour run is a fun run with a difference. Colour powder is thrown at passing runners from colour stations that are dotted along a course. Focusing more on creating memories than the time you get around the track, this makes a colour run a perfect family event!
But how does a colour run work, I hear you ask! Let me guide you through it all...
When to hold a colour run
One of the biggest risks with planning a colour run is the weather. The perfect colour run weather is a warm, dry and still day. Think spring time or early summer. Running in the middle of the day in the height of summer can cause overheating, so take this into consideration.
If possible, plan the course on a field or grassy area. You can run on tarmac, however most people find running on grass more comfortable. If you don't have your own space to use, speak with your council authority about using a park, or ask local businesses that have outdoor space available if they would be happy to let you use it.
Volunteers
Get recruiting early, colour runs are an hands-on-deck event! You'll need volunteers at colour stations, refreshment and activity stalls and of course marshalling the event. If you're finding it difficult to get confirmed volunteers, reach out to local businesses. Not only does it look good for their Corporate Social Responsibility, but it's a really fun team activity!
What to wear?
White is the colour of choice for a colour run. Our white t-shirts are the perfect canvas for the vibrant colour powders to stand out. We also offer a bespoke printing service, get in touch for a quote.
Eye protection is a must, as with anything, if our colour powder goes in your eyes it can cause irritation. We have a range of vibrant and affordable sunglasses available here.
Our motto is dress for mess as the colour powders can cause staining, so don't wear your fancy white trainers! We recommend comfortable and sturdy trainers, that you don't mind getting mucky. Colour powder on tarmac can be slippy, so be sure to take care! It's worth having a waiver available for runners/children who are taking part - we have an waiver template available, please get in touch for this.
What is colour powder?
Contrary to popular belief, the powders that are thrown at colour runs aren't paint. Our powders are made from corn starch and food grade dyes. They're designed to be kind to skin, so we don't add any preservatives or bulking agents. You can find out more about our colour powders by reading through our material and safety data sheet.
Charity colour run
As seen in the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice case study, a colour run can be an incredibly profitable event. Increase profit by having refreshment stalls available, sell accessories and 100g bags of colour powder to spectators, and have the usual 'whack-a-mole', buy a bottle and teddy tombola stalls available. These are great ways to raise more money.
Photo opportunities
The best way to capture the vibrancy of the day is to organise a 'colour cloud' at the end of the run. Simply throw handfulls of colour powder, or opened 100g bags, into the air to create a wonderful rainbow cloud of colours! This will give you wonderful images to share after the event, and can also be used for promotion for next years event!
Hopefully you've now got a better understanding of what a colour run is and how it all works. If you still have any questions, get in touch with our friendly team of colour experts who will be more than happy to help!
Olympic Themed Colour Run Activities
Add the element of colour to your 2024 Olympic Games themed sports day!
The Olympics 2024 will be taking place in Paris between Friday 26th July and Sunday 11th August. There’s plenty of ways to tie the leading international sporting event into colour themed sports days and fundraising ideas, so let’s make like Tom Daley and dive in!
First things first, hacky sacks!
We know children love colour powder, so to ensure the fun lasts even longer and they don’t throw it all at once, by filling odd socks with colour powder, you can have hours of fun! A hacky sack is a great way to play a number of Olympic Sports, in the school playground. Send out a request to parents, for donations of odd socks (we know every household has them!), and get filling them up. You can even get students involved in making up the hacky sacks, beforehand!
Archery
Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting arming young children with bows and arrows in the playground! This is our child-friendly take. Using chalk, create targets on the playground floor for children to throw hacky sacks into. When the hacky sack hits the ground a burst of colour powder will be released and mark the spot it hit. The team member who gets closest to the bullseye wins a point!
Track
There’s plenty of ways to make running more fun for kids, Sport Aberdeen have an amazing selection of ideas that are suitable for children of all ages. Our favourite way to add an element of excitement to running is to incorporate colour powder!
- Colour Run – Using a paper cup, scoop out colour powder from our 5kg bags of colour powder and throw this at the running children, covering them in vibrant colours. From April we will have our black colour powder available to purchase, so you can use the 5 colours of the Olympic Rings to keep on brand!
- Relays – Switch the baton for a hacky sack or 100g bag of colour powder. At the end of the race, the winners get covered in the other teams colours.
- Long jump – Add a sprinkling of colour powder to the sand pit so when landing there is a cloud of colour! Have volunteers add more colour powder when needed.
- Colour Run Obstacle Course – Like above, but add in hurdles, hoops to jump through, a slip and slide area or even inflatables! The kids will love it.
Throwing
- Shot put – Participants should stand inside a chalk circle and hold a hacky sack against their shoulder. The technique for throwing shot put is an art form in itself, as you can see in the video of the Müller British Athletic Championships!
- Discus – A similar technique to shot put, so make sure to warm up before this event. Rather than using a hacky sack try using an individual 100g bag of colour powder!
Colour-and-spoon race
Forget the egg, we’re all about the colour powder here! Not your typical Olympic sport, but you really can’t beat this style of event for sports day! Scoop a spoonful of colour powder for each child and set them on their way. You could add an extra element to this event by introducing obstacles.
When it comes to hosting your own Olympic Sports Day in the playground, focus on inclusivity and participation for all students. By creating a welcoming and friendly environment, you can foster not only physical skills but also social-emotional growth and a sense of belonging among your students. Let’s come together and celebrate the power of sport, friendship, and inclusivity in your very own Olympic Games.
How To Celebrate Holi Festival
The countdown to Holi Festival is getting closer and closer and we could not be more excited! We’ve been busy gearing up for Holi over at Ministry of Colours, making sure festivals and parties are stocked up with traditional colour powder and accessories for their events.
Holi is our favourite time of year as it's a time for joy, coming together and celebrating with colourful cheer. As we prepare for this vibrant celebration, it's important to remember some of the key tips for making the most of this festive occasion and celebrating the festival in the best way possible.
Gather with friends and family
First (and most importantly) gather your friends and family to join in the festivities, it’s no fun celebrating on your own! Holi Festival is all about having fun and promoting unity and is therefore best enjoyed surrounded by the company of loved ones. During this time people are encouraged to put their differences aside and the celebration is meant to bring communities together and often ends with friends and family visiting each other's homes in the evening.
Make a bonfire
On the eve of Holi, it's tradition to make a bonfire and place a small statue of Holika in the firewood. This is done due to the legend of the demon king Hiranyakashipu and symbolises the triumph of good over evil. This evening is also a time for friends and family to gather together and dance and celebrate around the bonfire.
Use colour powder
Holi is also known as the Festival of Colours as it’s tradition for people to shower each other with bright colour powder, also known as gulal, or mix the powder with water to paint on each other's faces. A rainbow of colours is typically used and each colour represents a different emotion or meaning:
Red - Colour of Love and Passion
Yellow - Colour of Happiness and Peace
Blue - Colour of Calm and Otherworldliness
Green - Colour of Nature and New Beginnings
Pink - Colour of Youth, Good Health and Playfulness
Orange - Colour of Courage and Sacrifice
Purple - Colour of Supreme Peace and Wisdom
The colours are non-toxic and shouldn't stain when used correctly, however it's best to wear clothing that you won't mind getting ruined and covered in colours. The best way to partake in this event however is by dressing in a white t-shirt or white clothing to show off all the colours you’ve attracted throughout the day. Don’t forget your colour accessories too!
Enjoy traditional Holi food and drink
Don’t forget to indulge in delicious festival treats! There are lots of traditional Indian meals, sweets and drinks that can be enjoyed during Holi. One staple of the festival is Thandai, a refreshing creamy milk drink that is prepared with a mixture of spices, nuts and sugar. Or perhaps try a traditional sweet like gujiya, a sweet fried dumpling filled with milk solids and nuts.
We particularly like the sound of dahi vada, a savoury snack made from lentils that are dunked in creamy yoghurt and topped with spices and chutney. Sounds delicious!
Ultimately, Holi is a celebration of new beginnings and a chance to have fun with friends and family. As March 25th draws closer, it’s time to start preparing for the festival by stocking up on colour powder (make sure you have enough of every colour!) and accessories to make your day as bright and fun-filled as possible.
We’ll be down at Leeds Holi Festival on both 23rd and 24th March selling our traditional Holi powder, so make sure you grab a ticket, come down to see us and join in the celebrations! The 23rd is for all those who want to really get into the party spirit, whilst the 24th is a family-friendly Holi celebration which is sure to keep the kids entertained all day!
Or if you’re hosting your own Holi event or party, use our handy colour powder calculator to work out how much you’ll need based on the number of people attending. You can also always drop us an email at hello@ministryofcolours.com or call us on 0330 321 3996 and we’d be happy to help you get prepared for all your Holi Festival needs!