As Hindus around the world mark Holi, the festival of colours, celebrations in regional New South Wales are uniting the small but growing local Indian community.
During Holi, partygoers throw brightly coloured powders at each other as they celebrate the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring in India.
It's one of the most popular festivals in Hinduism, which is why Raj Singh decided to host his own event when he moved to the NSW Mid North Coast.
"When we moved to Port Macquarie there were not many Indian community people here, so to get people together we started this festival in 2012," Dr Singh said.
Eleven years later, the local Holi event held at Lighthouse Beach has grown to include more than 100 people, and unites members of the community every year in March.
"When we first started the festival, the beachgoers used to wonder what was happening here," Dr Singh said.
"A lot of people now actually know about the festival and come and play with us."
Dr Singh lives in Port Macquarie with his wife Monika Singh and their children.
"It has changed a lot from a group of 10 to 12 families to a group of about 50 to 60 families … and some parents have come to join us all the way from India," Monika Singh said.
She said while their children had grown up in Australia, it was good that they were able to learn about their Indian culture at these gatherings.
Local university student Rajesh Bagepalli moved to the regional town from Sydney just three weeks ago to study.
She said arriving in Port Macquarie was a big culture shock initially, after coming from a large Indian community in Sydney.
"Even though there's not many people of colour in regional towns, it doesn't mean they don't exist," Ms Bagepalli said.
"It's been really nice to meet my people and know that I have a community around me."
In India the festival is held over two days. On the first, families pray and dance around a bonfire, while on the second day participants take to the streets to douse each other with coloured powder.
While on a smaller scale, it was a similar celebration in Port Macquarie with traditional coloured powders, food and music.
Dr Singh also hoped the annual event would raise awareness about Hindu culture in regional Australia.
Phani Prakhya travelled from nearby Kempsey to celebrate with his friends.
"It's great to have an Indian community in the Mid North Coast which is growing … I feel like we are home," he said.
Mr Prakhya said the celebrations were a great day for all involved.
"It makes you understand that whatever life gives you, just look at it as a positive thing," he said.
Good friends Mahi Modi and Meet Panchal were part of the original group's gathering in 2012, as young kids.
"Before there was a very limited amount of people of colour here," Ms Modi said.
"When the community brought this in it was lovely and I got to connect with my culture more."
Mr Panchal said it had helped him embrace his culture since being in Australia.
"As a representation of our own culture and nationality, I think it's very important to show how colourful we all are," he said.
"We want to spread the happiness to everybody."
