Play safe Holi with organic colours

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, March 5

The only way to play a safe Holi is to keep indoors as the world outside goes crazy with colours. A favorite for many reasons, by now everyone has stocked up the Holi essentials, including colours, pichkaris, thandai and gujiya. As the spirits run wild, here are some pointers for the day.

Protect your skin

Fun aside, Holi can be harsh on the skin if you let people go wild with colours. Make sure you enjoy the festival without screaming in horror the next day. Allergies, rashes, skin irritations and hair damage are common problems post Holi because of the chemical-laden colours. Keep your skin moisturised before playing with colours. Apply a lot of oil on your hair and try to avoid the sun. Do not let the colours into eyes, mouth or other sensitive spots on your skin. Most importantly try organic or natural colours.

Go green

Not the colour essentially but the way. Choosing not to sacrifice environment and health over festive spirit, organic products are on top of everyone’s list for the day. Natural and organic colors are available at all the leading retail shops around the city. Even organic clothes for the day can also be picked up. “Since Holi is incomplete without colours and keeping in mind the safety during the festival, we have herbal and natural colours available along with the usual ones. Turmeric, red sandalwood powder, amla, henna, beetroot and dry flowers like marigold, tesu, amaltaas, red hibiscus etc are used to make the colours,” said Balraj Sharma, a vendor at Putlighar. Popular brands of natural colours from Khadi, FabIndia, Antarkranti and Vedic are available in the city at a difference of Rs 25 to Rs 40. The natural colours are easy on the pocket too.

Special Children of Ibadat School in city have also put up exhibition-cum-sale of the natural holi colours made by them. They also celebrated the festival by giving a message of eco-friendly Holi through a cultural event on the school premises.