The Holi Party I’ll Never Forget: Playing Live in Camden, London
Holi has always been personal to me.
Growing up Indian and Gujarati, Holi was like a yearly reminder that pure joy just needs a bit of colour and a good playlist.
So playing Holi this time, especially with a legendary community brand Bombay Funkadelic, felt bigger than a booking for sure.
That was the Besharam Rang Holi Party in Camden, London and my set there was one of the most beautiful reminders of why I do what I do.
When Colour Became the Language
Organic, biodegradable-coloured powders in the air.
Dhol players hyping the crowd.
The smell of Indian street food drifting through the air.
Camden, for a few magical hours, didn’t feel like London at all.
It felt like a Holi afternoon straight out of home-town.
It felt like it’s on me to keep the culture alive, represent it authentically, give the diaspora a slice of home and introduce my fellow non-Indians to the pure madness and beauty of Holi
Dropping Beats
The first track dropped.
And the colours went up.
In that moment I felt it so true that Holi crowds don’t dance like club crowds, they don’t wait for the beat drop, but they actually become the beat drop.
Kids, parents, students, aunties, uncles, London locals, Indian expats, everyone in one messy, happy, colourful blur.
As a DJ, that’s gold, real GOLD!
I mixed Bollywood bangers, desi classics, high-energy anthems, watching the crowd respond with dance moves and smiles, hugs and handfuls of pink and blue gulaal.
What Playing with Bombay Funkadelic fame feels like
Bombay Funkadelic have created something special in the UK spaces where South Asian culture is preserved, and celebrated loudly and proudly.
And being part of their Camden Holi event felt like joining a movement, not just a line-up.
For me, as DJ Toons Official, this is exactly what my journey has always been about:
Holi in Camden proved that Indian culture in the UK is not and would not fade, it will only evolve, dancing and throwing colour in the air.
More Than a Gig
By the end of the day, my shoes were covered in colour.
My puffer was dusted pink.
And my heart was ridiculously full.
That Camden Holi set reminded me why I started DJing in the first place.
Keeping Culture Alive, One Beat at a Time
Every set I play tells a story.
This one told the story of:
India meeting London, tradition meeting modern life, and colour meeting community.
And as long as I’m behind the decks, that will always be my mission, to celebrate the uniqueness of people, places and cultures through music.
This Holi fest gave me that chance in the most vibrant way possible.
Until next Holi… (next time)
– DJ Toons Official