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Play safe this Holi

Holi needn't be about toxic colours and skin rashes

HOLI HAI There are natural colour alternatives that your skin will welcome

Holi is undoubtedly a festival of fun, colour and revelry. It signifies the end of winter and the onset of spring and summer and therefore the title - `The festival of colours'. But today, having fun and playing safe on Holi seems to be a rather difficult preposition and ironically enough, with each passing day, the interpretation of Holi seems to be going farther away from the truth. Early on, especially in North India, people used flower petals to celebrate the festival the way it was meant to be - for the colours and fragrance it brought in. Rajnigandha and rose petals were torn and thrown all over to herald the new season. Today, eggs and beer are the safer entrants on the list. Tar, gutter water and even mud are the not so appetising ones on the list.

What follows are the unsafe and unnatural pigments in colours that can lead to rashes and allergies and take longer than usual to subside since the colour has remained on the skin for long. Certain colours contain mica and chemicals that are used in dyes - obviously not meant for the skin. Acids, powdered glass and asbestos, silica, oxides, copper sulphate and mercury sulphite are some chemicals used in dry and wet colours. The speckled shine in colours that you like so much comes from silica and mica - substances that can cause skin irritations and even damage your vision.

But thankfully, people have realised the damage these colours can do and have begun to opt for organic and natural colours. In Hyderabad, certain communities make vats of herbal colour by buying the Tesu flower in bulk and boiling it for a few hours. When buying regular gulaal ensure that your source is a safe bet. A nationwide company has also launched food-grade Holi colours in pink, orange and blue with a base of talcum powder and dyes made form natural extracts. Organic colours are being made with henna powder, dried gulmohar flowers, dried hibiscus flowers, marigolds and even lesser known ones like Palash and Amaltas. Bhang, ground opium that is mixed in sweets and drinks is synonymous with Holi and can be dangerous too. Bhang is a heavy intoxicant and one should be extremely careful with it. The hangover can do considerable damage to your system.

In case someone puts a ton of chemical colour on you and you start feeling nauseous, see a doctor pronto. Aloe Vera gel and Calamine lotion are good skin soothers post the celebrations. At the end of the day, it's about having fun and letting others enjoy the festival as well. Learn to say no to an unsafe festival. Play safe, be natural and have a Happy Holi!

Colour code

Here are few safe colours that you can use pretty indiscriminately on your buddies.

Green: Mix equal quantities of henna or mehendi with atta or besan for a lovely green colour. For a stronger colour mix this with water to make a paste.

Yellow: Mix haldi with double the quantity of besan. Replace besan with atta, maida, rice flour, or talcum powder. Even the dried rind of the Bael fruit gives a nice sunny yellow powder. Marigolds soaked in water, boiled for a few hours and left overnight gives off a wet yellow colour too.

Red: Use red sandalwood powder, red hibiscus powder or Sinduria, a fruit with brick red colour seeds.

Blue: Dried Jacaranda flowers that bloom in this season can be used. Alternatively, the fruit of the indigo plant can be crushed and added to water. This can also be boiled for a richer hue.

Black: Use the juice of black grapes, diluted with water.

Turmeric water mixed with a little baking soda (soda bicarbonate) gives off a red or magenta colour. Boiled rose petals in water give off a pink colour.

RENUKA VIJAY KUMAR

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