Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Preparations on for Holi All for natural colours this Holi

S. Harpal Singh

Use of natural colours is still preferred in Western parts of Adilabad Colours made of flower extracts in western parts of Adilabad

PREPARING FOR THE FESTIVAL: Children in Tosham village of Gudihatnoor mandal collecting moduga or palash flowers to boil them to get natural reddish orange colour for holi.

ADILABAD: There are some things of the past that are still alive in Adilabad like elaborate preparations for the Holi in the countryside, especially the western parts.

Use of natural colours is still preferred in this area, despite the somewhat tedious task it makes.

The preparations for the festival of colours begin a week before.

People indulge in making natural colours from plants and flowers that are available locally.

For example, orange or red colour is extracted from flowers of the abundantly available moduga or palash trees. Blue is extracted from the indigo plant though it has become rare, yellow colour is made by grinding the `harital' stone etc.

Varied hues

"Colours are used in dry as well as wet forms during the Holi in Adilabad.

Though the activity is on the decline, people make in their homes dry colours like the pink `gulal' and the brownish `abeer' besides the wet colours made from plants and flowers ," said Kala Ashram Guruji Ravinder Sharma, who has studied local festivals and the changes in customs over the last 40 years.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Bt cotton spells doom for cattle?
Gang snatching purses busted
Preparations on for Holi All for natural colours this Holi
Religious fervour marks Kadiri `brahmostsavam'
Centre urged to clear irrigation proposals of State
Max insurance ties up with co-op bank
Mayor for steps to check water scarcity
Seven held on gambling charge
160 acres of assigned lands in Proddatur
Arrangements for Inter exam
Officials urged to complete survey
CPI(M) dharna
NGO to launch helpline
In Chittoor Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu