Tight security in place for Holi

Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, March 20

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the city to prevent any untoward incident during the festival of colours — Holi.

The city will remain on high alert and anybody creating ruckus on roads will be dealt with strictly.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, SSP Dr Nanak Singh said eve-teasing, hooliganism, road rage and other incidents came to light during this pious festival and to check them, patrolling had been intensified.

The police said public had been asked to inform them about the wrongdoers in all residential and commercial areas of the city on the occasion of Holi. The SSP said the police had already taken several steps in the city to boost security.

Market flooded with organic colours

The market is already flooded with organic colours and shopkeepers have kept herbal products in a large quantity for sale.

Herbal and organic colours are getting popular despite being costlier than chemical colours. The demand for ‘pakka’ colors has been declining for the past few years with reported incidents of adulteration of colour with toxic chemicals.

Chahat, a city resident, said, “Holi is a festival for enjoyment with friends. This year, our whole group has planned to use only organic colours as last year, one of our friends had itching in the eyes due to harmful colours while playing Holi. The whole festival was spoiled. This time, we do not want to take any risk with the skin.”

Another resident Robin Jindal said, “It is always better to take precautions so I will be playing Holi with organic colours as these are said to be safe for the skin. There is no question of playing Holi with risk of harmful reactions.”

A city-based doctor, Vitul Gupta, urged people not to use chemical colours as these affected cornea and eyelids. He said, “un case of an injury due to chemical colours, the affected eye should be washed with plenty of water. If redness or irritation persists, one should visit an eye specialist immediately.”

He said people should use organic or herbal colours and apply ‘chandan’ on the forehead of their near and dear ones to celebrate Holi.

Skin specialist Dr Rajesh Maheshwari asked people to avoid water colours as these badly affect the skin. He also cautioned against using synthetic colours while playing Holi to avoid allergy, especially bronchial allergy.

A child specialist, Dr Satish Jindal also stressed against using synthetic colours while playing Holi to avoid allergy.

Precautions needed on festival of colours

• Use organic or natural colours. 
• You can also make some colours at home by mixing turmeric with some roasted chickpea powder to make gulal, along with finely powdered hibiscus flower, to get deep hue of red.
• For those having a hypersensitive skin, eczemas, psoriasis, and other eczematous skin conditions, it is best to avoid colour contact at least with chemical colours.
• Apply coconut oil on hair and scalp before playing Holi to prevent the colour from blocking the pores
• Apply aloe vera gel and oil on the body to create a layer of protection on the skin. Don't forget to cover the ear area.
• If any kind of colour gets in the eyes, wash them immediately
• Use sun screen on the skin to avoid skin damage.

Herbal colours gain popularity

• Herbal and organic colours are getting popular despite being costlier than chemical colours. The demand for 'pakka' colors has been declining for the past few years with reported incidents of adulteration of colour with toxic chemicals.
• A city-based doctor, Vitul Gupta, urged people not to use chemical colours as these affected cornea and eyelids.
• Skin specialist Dr Rajesh Maheshwari asked people to avoid water colours as these badly affect the skin. He also cautioned against using synthetic colours while playing Holi to avoid allergy, especially bronchial allergy. .