With just over a week to go until Holi, various celebrations of the Hindu festival of colours are starting to take place across Australia. For Meha Raina, celebrations growing up involved a custom synonymous with the occasion: throwing colours at family and friends.
Now, the marketing professional and entrepreneur has paired community and creativity – central themes behind the festival – to bring colour and joy to this special time. The Sydney-based founder of Arty Party, a mobile ‘paint and sip-style’ business, is hosting several ‘Holi Paint & Chai’ events. Held at Indian restaurant Masala Kitchen (across three different Sydney locations), the all-ages event brings food, dancing and of course, colour (through painting a culturally-inspired design) to Holi celebrations in an innovative way.
“What makes it special is that it reimagines Holi in a way that feels both culturally rooted and contemporary,” Meha tells Draw Your Box. “Instead of traditional colour throwing, we’re celebrating colour on canvas, capturing the joy, movement and symbolism of Holi in a creative format that’s accessible to all ages and backgrounds. “
After hosting a similar Diwali event last year, Meha says this fresh and vibrant take on the festivities particularly resonates with young South Asians.
“I see younger generations blending tradition with their lived Australian identity. They’re proud of their heritage, but they also want celebrations to feel relevant and accessible to their everyday lives,” she says.
“Events like ‘Holi Paint & Chai’ reflect that shift. It allows second generation South Asians, and multicultural families, to celebrate in a way that feels authentic to both sides of their identity. It’s not about replacing tradition. It’s about expressing it in new forms. I think that creative reinterpretation is powerful.”
As the first ‘Holi Paint & Chai’ event takes place today at Masala Kitchen in Bella Vista, we caught up with Meha to hear more about the story behind Arty Party, and of course two more ‘Holi Paint & Chai’ events that you can still grab your tickets to.
For those who haven’t heard of Arty Party yet, can you tell us what it is?
Arty Party is a Sydney-based creative mobile events business that brings people together through art experiences. We host curated paint workshops across Sydney and NSW – from ‘paint & sip’ with canvas, to collaborative artwork for corporate teams, ‘paint your partner’ for social events and ‘paint and picnic’ to celebrate the beautiful outdoors of Sydney. Our favourite ‘Paint & Chai’ is a multicultural Indian-inspired event which blends Indian culture with ethnic art and Bollywood music.
At its core, Arty Party is about connection. We create beautiful, welcoming spaces where people can slow down, be creative, celebrate life’s moments and create memories – whether that’s a birthday, a team-building day, a cultural festival or simply a catchup with friends.
What inspired you to start this business?
Creativity has always been a big part of who I am. I’ve always loved art, celebratory events and bringing people together, and I saw an opportunity to blend all three.
As a South Asian woman and a mum living in Australia, I felt there was space for more culturally inclusive creative experiences. I wanted to build something that felt joyful, accessible and reflective of the vibrant fusion of cultures around us. Arty Party was born from that desire – to create art experiences that feel elevated, meaningful and welcoming to everyone.
You’re launching Sydney’s first-ever Holi Paint & Chai. What is this event, and what makes it special?
‘Holi Paint & Chai’ is a vibrant art experience inspired by the festival of colours. It’s a guided painting session infused with the spirit of Holi, with bright palettes, expressive brushstrokes, music, community and of course, chai.
What makes it special is that it reimagines Holi in a way that feels both culturally rooted and contemporary. Instead of traditional colour throwing, we’re celebrating colour on canvas, capturing the joy, movement and symbolism of Holi in a creative format that’s accessible to all ages and backgrounds. It’s festive, artistic and deeply nostalgic all at once so we can all enjoy a little bit of India, right here in Sydney for Desi people missing home, or other communities wanting to know more about Indian culture.
Who is the target market and what can attendees expect on the day? And any hints on what they’ll be painting?
The event is designed for adults, families and culturally curious creatives, particularly second-generation South Asians and multicultural Australians who want to celebrate Holi in a meaningful but modern way.
On the day, attendees can expect a beautifully styled space, a guided step-by-step painting session, delicious masala chai, Bollywood music and a relaxed social atmosphere. It’s less about artistic skill and more about joy and expression.
As for what they’ll be painting… think bursts of colour, movement and symbolism inspired by one of the iconic and symbolic Indian creatures. Expect bold pinks, yellows and blues, and a design that captures celebration and connection in a way that feels both modern and timeless.
When it comes to Holi festivities, where and how did you celebrate it growing up? Over time, have the rituals and customs shifted for you personally?
Growing up, Holi was full of colour, laughter and community. It was about family gatherings, sweets, music and of course, playful colour throwing.
Over time, the way I celebrate has evolved. Living in Australia, the celebrations look different, sometimes being smaller, and sometimes more community-driven. As a mother, I’m more intentional about what I pass on to my children. For me now, it’s less about the chaos and more about the meaning behind it – joy, unity and embracing colour in all its forms. This event is my way of honouring that evolution.
As a mother, do you have any reflections on how the younger generation’s ways of celebrating cultural occasions like Holi may be shifting?
Absolutely. I see younger generations blending tradition with their lived Australian identity. They’re proud of their heritage, but they also want celebrations to feel relevant and accessible to their everyday lives.
Events like ‘Holi Paint & Chai’ reflect that shift. It allows second generation South Asians, and multicultural families, to celebrate in a way that feels authentic to both sides of their identity. It’s not about replacing tradition. It’s about expressing it in new forms. I think that creative reinterpretation is powerful.
As an entrepreneur and creative, what learnings did you take away from hosting a similar ‘Diwali Paint & Chai’ event last year?
The ‘Diwali Paint & Chai’ event taught me how deeply people crave culturally connected spaces. The response was incredibly heartwarming, as people shared stories, brought their mothers and daughters, and expressed how meaningful it felt to celebrate Diwali in a creative way. I could not even imagine how much it was appreciated by local Aussies who finally found a way to understand Indian culture without feeling left out!
It showed me that there’s room for more South Asian-inspired art experiences in Sydney. With Holi, we’ve refined the painting, elevated the experience and leaned further into the immersive, sensory aspects of colour, music, food and collaboration.
Tell us about the collaboration with Masala Kitchen. How did it come about and why was it the perfect fit?
Masala Kitchen felt like a natural partner because they share the same ethos – celebrating South Asian culture in a modern, elevated way. Their food brings authenticity and warmth, which perfectly complements the artistic experience.
We both believe in creating community spaces that feel vibrant and inclusive. Bringing art and food together enhances the sensory experience and makes the event feel complete. NO Indian event can be complete without delicious Indian food and chai after all!
What has been the most challenging aspect of building Arty Party so far? And what has been the most rewarding part?
The most challenging aspect has been balancing growth with sustainability, especially as a mother and entrepreneur. Wearing multiple hats, managing marketing, operations and creativity simultaneously requires resilience and adaptability.
The most rewarding part has been seeing people light up during our events. Watching someone who hasn’t picked up a paintbrush in years create something they’re proud of, or seeing families connect over art, makes all the hard work worthwhile.
As an entrepreneur, what advice would you have for other young South Asians looking to launch a creative business?
Start before you feel ready. There’s never a perfect moment.
Lean into your cultural identity – it’s a strength, not something to dilute. Some of the most powerful ideas come from blending your heritage with your lived experience.
And most importantly, build a community. Business is not just about transactions; it’s about relationships. You’ll feel surprised on the support you’ll receive. Also, stay resilient. No matter what comes your way, take a moment to pause often to reflect on the offering, fine tune it and be innovative to keep growing.
What’s next for Arty Party after ‘Holi Paint & Chai’?
Holi Paint & Chai is just the beginning of a broader vision to expand culturally-inspired art experiences across Sydney.
We’re continuing to grow our corporate and community offerings, developing more Indian fusion artwork for upcoming seasons, and expanding our curated picnic paint experiences. The goal is to keep creating spaces where art, culture and celebration meet.
Arty Party’s ‘Holi Chai & Paint’ sessions are taking place at Masala Kitchen across three locations, with ticket details available here.
Norwest 22nd Feb: 3-5pm (sold out)
Petersham 15th March: 3-5pm
Lane Cove. 26th April: 3-5pm
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