the Colour Run is coming to a city near you

The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, is a unique color race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality, and giving back to the community. Less about your 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life, The Color Run is a five-kilometre, un-timed race in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometre. The fun continues at the finish line with a gigantic “Color Festival,” using more colored powder to create happiness and lasting memories, not to mention millions of vivid color combinations. Trust us, this is the best post-5k party on the planet! With only two rules, the idea is easy to follow: a) Wear white at the starting line, and b) Finish plastered in color.

Now the single largest event series on the planet, The Color Run is exploding since the debut event in January of 2012 and will grow from over 50 events and 600,000 participants in 2012, to over 100 events and over a million participants in 2013, in the USA alone. Now, please note that the participation fee runs about 40-50 USD, or 25 GBP when you are in London. The event has reached global proportions, spanning all 5 continents and 16 countries in total. Read more on Wikipedia here.

The idea has enough originality, since it combines a colour festival, a burst of joy if you have ever attended one, with a 5k race, a running event that people of most ages are able to follow. So it is bound to be an instant success wherever it will be held. Colour festivals of one sort or the other are frequent in many countries over Europe and Asia, the most characteristic (or reknowned) being the Holi in India. Holi is a spring festival celebrated by Hindus as a festival of colours. It is primarily observed in India and Nepal but also in Bangladesh and Pakistan. It is also known as Phagwah and Festival of Colours. The festival has many purposes; first and foremost, it celebrates the beginning of the new season, spring. Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colours and saying farewell to winter. Although it is the least religious holiday, it is probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. During this event, participants hold a bonfire, throw coloured powder at each other, and celebrate wildly.  Holi lowers (but does not remove completely) the strictness of social norms.  Together, everyone enjoys each other’s presence on this joyous day. No one expects polite behaviour; as a result, the atmosphere is filled with excitement, fun and joy.

[Ref.] http://www.thecolorrun.co.uk/About-Us

[Ref.] http://thecolorrun.com/

[Ref.] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi