Make Your This Holi Special with Natural Colours |
Yes, the Indian festival of colors, Holi is just around the corner! Once again various colors, popularly referred to as “gulal”, are being sold on the roadside stalls and in the markets, along with multi-colored pichkari (water guns), and other Holi accessories. The plethora of bright colored powders look very attractive and we are tempted to buy them. But, the truth is that most of these colors contain high chemical content which is hazardous for human skin.
Harmful Components in Synthetic “Gulal”
Basically, the variety of “gulals” that are available in the market are usually meant for industrial and dyeing purposes. Some of the harmful elements found in these colors are:
- Copper sulfate gives the green color
- Mercury sulfate is used for red color
- Lead oxide for black
- Aluminum bromide for silver
- Chromium iodide for the purple color
- Prussian blue for blue color
- Shiny colors are a result of the powdered glass being added to the gulal
Harmful Effects
The materials used in synthetic colors are toxic and can lead to:
- Eye irritation
- Skin allergies
- Blindness
- Dust allergies
- Rashes, and in extreme cases various chronic ailments and terminal diseases.
Different toxic materials used in these colors have their individual drawbacks. For example, experts say that the lead oxide used in the black color leads to renal failure and learning disability. Similarly, copper sulfate causes eye allergy, temporary blindness, and bronchial asthma. Chromium Iodide causes allergies; aluminum bromide used in silver gulal causes carcinogenic problems while mercury sulfite causes skin cancer. Pregnant women are advised not to play with these colors as it may get absorbed and harm the baby inside the womb. Isn’t it a scary situation?
Growing Importance of Herbal or Natural Colours
No matter how attractive these colors may seem, it is very essential to check the quality so as to avoid health problems that may follow. This ancient festival of colors can be more fun and harmless if you play with natural or organic colors. In fact, in recent years, the importance of eco-friendly and chemical-free colors has been stressed. These colors are skin-friendly and are also not harmful to the environment.
Ingredients Used in Herbal Organic Colours
The organic herbal colors are usually made from organic turmeric, beetroot, kumkum, indigo leaves, white maida, rose petals, marigold flowers, gram flour, tulsi leaves, Mehendi leaves, sandalwood powders, and varieties of organic stuff and flowers.
Where are Herbal Colours Available in Delhi?
Although organic gulals are easily available in all the neighborhood shops and prominent markets, it is better to buy them from authentic shops which deal in certified organic products. You can also get good quality organic gulal at Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath, Khadi Bhandar, Dilli Haat and Fab India among others.
Make Your Own Natural Colours
Yellow: Mix organic haldi and besan powder to make your yellow gulal. Or else, grind dried marigold flowers or yellow chrysanthemums to get another shade of yellow gulal.
Green: Take some fresh Mehendi leaves, dry them and grind them to get green-colored powder. You can obtain different shades of green by mixing henna powder with flour or besan.
Blue: If you are lucky to find the blue Hibiscus flowers, dry and grind them to get a nice blue color.
Red: Use organic sindoor as the red color. Or else get dried rose petals or red hibiscus flowers, grind them and get nice shades of red.
Use organic colors or home-made natural colors this holi. Stop wasting water by playing with watercolors. Make it more fun, more enjoyable and eco-friendly.