Kingston upon Thames' Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee has allocated £3,000 to Namaste Kingston CIC to support their Rangotsav 2026 project, a Holi festival celebrating spring. The event is scheduled to take place in March 2026.

The event, expected to draw over 3,000 attendees to Hollyfield School, aims to foster social cohesion through the play of colours, live music, cultural performances, and interactive workshops. Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates spring.

The funding supports objectives in the Surbiton Neighbourhood Community Plan, including bringing new events to the neighbourhood, celebrating local culture, and supporting projects that align with the council's 'Together' priorities. Specifically, the Rangotsav 2026 project aligns with the 'Together' priorities T2, T3, and T4 as outlined in paragraph 15 of the Public reports pack:

  • T2. Projects which bring new opportunities and events to the neighbourhood.
  • T3. The celebration of Surbiton's history and culture and support for projects which promote, and offer opportunities to, local artists and performers.
  • T4. Projects which allow groups to deliver the Council's 'Together' priorities within the neighbourhood by either increasing their capacity or through the delivery of new activity.

James Keech summarised that the application meets all the minimum requirements of the program and that it meets the outcomes set in the community plan.

Madal Himani from Namaste Kingston CIC said that they are an organisation associated with bringing the South Asian community to contribute more towards Kingston and Surbiton and overall activities. She said:

Most of our community members have integrated within the community quite well. And what we are looking forward now is to move from the next step forward from integration to kind of contribution now. How can we give back to the lovely and the wonderful society at large that we have in Kingston and Surbiton?

Councillor Herlinger asked if this year's event is also taking place in Hollyfield School. Madal Himani confirmed that it is what they are proposing, as it's the centre of the borough essentially and constituents or participants from across the whole of the borough can come over there. Councillor Green asked how many attended last year, and Madal Himani said that excluding Councillor Green, it was close to about 1,000. Councillor Green clarified that she attended as the mayor last year.

Councillor Thayalan said that he was one of the 1,000 people who attended the event this year, and that it was a very colourful event, attended by lots of councillors and all different communities as well. He added that it's a well established organisation, working with all the communities, and that he is happy to support their grant.

The committee also approved the allocation of £6,346.40 from Councillor Ward Funding to provide Christmas trees in Surbiton, at the roundabout at Surbiton Station, and in Tolworth, at the junction of Ewell Road and Princes Avenue.

In addition to the Christmas tree funding, the committee also approved a £3,000 Neighbourhood Community Grant for Namaste Kingston CIC to support their Rangotsav 2026 project.<!-- Footnote needed because it is not possible to weave the answer in without making the article difficult to read. -->