From India’s “Holi Festival”! Asia’s Largest Color Party at Happyland Turns Tragic

▲Happyland Amusement Park was left covered in blood following the explosion. (Photo provided by netizen Huo Zai; do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Compiled by staff

An explosion occurred during the “Color Play Party” held at Happyland Amusement Park in New Taipei City on the evening of the 27th. Hundreds of people suffered burns and were rushed to hospitals, leaving the scene in chaos. Dubbed thelargest outdoor ticketed party in Taiwan and also the biggest color party in Asia, the event drew inspiration from India’s “Holi Festival.” The party was open to all ages, with this year’s ticket priced at NT$1,500 per person.

The explosion is suspected to have been caused by colored powder. Due to the large number of injured, the New Taipei City Government activated a mass casualty emergency response, dispatching 11 private ambulances to assist in rescue efforts and setting up a medical station at Tamsui Mackay Memorial Hospital. The city government also urged nearby residents and passersby to stay away from the area.

▲Rescue efforts intensify as multiple injuries are reported following the explosion at Happyland. (Photo provided by the public)

The color party hosted by Happyland,boasted as the largest outdoor ticketed party in Taiwan and the biggest color party in Asia,first drew inspiration from India’s “Holi Festival.” The inaugural event was held in August 2013 at Kaohsiung’s Sizihwan, attracting over 6,000 participants. In 2014, the second edition moved to Happyland, drawing around 8,000 attendees. This year marked the third edition, which also saw a large turnout.

▲Photos from the 2014 Happyland Color Party show attendees having a blast. (Photo sourced from Color Play Asia – Color Party Fan Page)

The color party featured large amounts of colorful powder for participants to throw at each other, along with DJ-led EDM performances and water activities.Open to all ages, the ticket price was NT$1,500 per person.The event’s official website still showcases photos of past participants in swimsuits and bikinis, covered head to toe in vibrant colors and beaming with joy. However, this year’s laughter was replaced by tragedy due to the explosion.

%Disastrous incident turns joyous celebration into horror.